Adamu Muhammad Nababa
December 15, 2024, was a bright but cold Sunday. With very little on my weekend schedule, having listened to all the news, read all the features, and eagerly awaiting a delectable lunch at home, my eyes suddenly caught a headline from an online newspaper, The Daily Nigerian, that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has ‘torched’ some heads of state agencies.
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Believing the headline referred to the governor’s recent cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, December 12, 2024, I thought it was stale news and skipped it. In tha” earlier rejig, Governor Yusuf fired the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, and the Chief of Staff, Alhaji Shehu Wada Sagagi.
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Suddenly, a colleague called to inform me of a new development and forwarded a press statement. I quickly returned to The Daily Nigerian, and there it was—Kabiru Ado Zakirai had been removed from his position as the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Senior Secondary Schools Management Board (KSSSSMB) and reassigned to the State Library Board. Hon. Rabiu Sale Gwarzo had taken his place.
The abruptness of this leadership change felt like a coup d’état announced by a revolutionary soldier. Yet, to many, it was long overdue. Zakirai’s tenure had been fraught with challenges from the start. He appeared unprepared for the role, unsure of the board’s mandate or its goals. Some even argued he was neither qualified nor fit for the position.
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Zakirai began his term on shaky ground, riding on negative perceptions of the board’s directors, zonal directors, and school principals across the state. Believing them all to be crooks, he failed to see the bigger picture. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
*Yusuf’s masterstroke*
The sacking of Zakirai was welcomed by stakeholders in the education sector, who had long expressed frustration over his leadership style. Under his watch, efforts to provide guidance or alternative perspectives were met with suspicion, threats, and resistance. Many noted that he carried himself as an infallible Philosopher King—an educational administrator with a PhD who needed no counsel.
Governor Yusuf’s decision was sudden, radical, and decisive—a bold masterstroke at a critical moment. With the state’s education system in decline and some politically appointed officials failing to deliver meaningful results, the governor’s move signals a commitment to salvaging this vital sector. Indeed, such bold actions are necessary to awaken complacent political appointees who thrive on incompetence and self-interest.
A walk through history
The KSSSSMB has seen its share of effective and ineffective leaders. Before Zakirai, the board had executives who performed remarkably well, regardless of their academic credentials. Dr. Bello Shehu, despite his youth, made notable strides toward achieving the board’s goals. His predecessor, Dr. Hussain Ganduje, though modest about his expertise, led successfully for four years.
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However, the most impactful leaders were not necessarily PhD holders. Malam Muhammad Idris, an educationist to the core, completed a full four-year tenure and was retained due to his excellent performance. His successor, Hon. Habib Hassan El-Yakub, a staunch Kwankwasiyya loyalist, displayed unmatched leadership and dedication. El-Yakub rebuilt the board’s structure and legacy, leaving behind a blueprint for success that remains unmatched to this day.
*What next?*
With this change at KSSSSMB, concerned citizens await concrete results. In his year-long tenure, Zakirai had little to show beyond rhetoric. Many observers had assumed that Governor Yusuf was unaware of the disconnect at the board, but this decisive action proves otherwise.
The Kano State Government must not take the significant budget allocated to education in 2025 for granted. Strategic positions should not be occupied by individuals who lack the capacity or commitment to deliver results. The education sector needs leadership grounded in vision, diligence, and hands-on engagement.
Insiders at KSSSSMB report that of the nearly one thousand schools under its management, Zakirai visited only a handful. Such absentee leadership does little to inspire confidence or improve school performance.
As the new Executive Secretary assumes office, there is a pressing need for him to restore the fortunes of KSSSSMB and contribute meaningfully to the revitalization of Kano’s education sector. The task ahead is enormous, but It is achievable with the right leadership.
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While we wish Zakirai success in his new role at the State Library Board, all eyes are now on Hon. Rabiu Sale Gwarzo to deliver on the expectations of Kano’s citizens and stakeholders.
_Nababa is a former director at KSSSSMB and the co-founder of Nigerian Track Magazine. He can be reached at mnababaadamu@gmail.com._
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