Strengthening Institutions: Kano Govt to partner Savannah Centre

By Kemi Kasumu, General Editor

The Kano State Government is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Savannah Center for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD) for building of institutions in the state.

The state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, revealed this according to a statement by Director General, Media and Publicity in the Government House, Kano, Mr. Ameen Yasser, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER.

Explaining this, Governor Ganduje said there was the critical need “to strengthen the institutional and human resource capacities of the government for the realization of our development objectives”.

The Governor announced this Monday evening during a fund raising and luncheon to support the SCDDD at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.

He said his administration was determined to ensure robust institutions that would transform Kano into a force to reckon with in the scheme of things in the country, through efficient service delivery.

“Government appreciates institutions such as your own at this critical time. This center, I understand is determined to assist in building institutions for the development of our democracy and the overall development of our country”, the governor maintained.

Governor Ganduje then tasked the centre to initiate programmes aimed at addressing the issue of what he termed ‘nomadic politicians’, “whose itinerant movement to and from political parties has become the order of the day in recent times, in the country”.

He commended the chairman of Savannah Center for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari for his foresight, noting that the initiative would assist the Nigerian government on matters relating to good governance, economic progress and sustainable development.

In his remark, Prof. Gambari explained that the inspiration to establish the center came from two former UN Secretary Generals, Boutrous Ghali and Kofi Annan, who underscored the link between peace, democracy and development.

“The main objectives of the center are to design and implement programmes that would promote peace, democracy and sustainable development in Nigeria and Africa, strengthen security and peace as well as engage in strategic research and collaborations with other centres and institutions, among other things”, the former UN Under Secretary-General revealed.

Highlights of the occasion include presentation to plaques to distinguished Nigerians including Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, Rtd. Justice Muhammad Uwais, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II and Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi, in appreciation of their contributions to the Savannah Center for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development.