ZITDA hosted the Women Techmakers community for the ‘Experience AI Workshop,’ highlighting our commitment to gender inclusivity in technology.
The event provided women with hands-on AI training, mentorship, and networking opportunities, helping bridge the gender gap in the tech industry.
This initiative is part of ZITDA’s broader efforts to support women’s participation in technology, ensuring a more inclusive and innovative digital future.
ZITDA staff participated in an intensive session on Web Development, led by Aliyu Yusuf, as part of their efforts to enhance their digital capabilities. The training covered various aspects, including frontend development (client-side), backend development (server-side), full-stack development, web hosting, and security and performance.
It also provided a deep dive into the fundamentals of building a user-friendly website, ensuring a comprehensive understanding from coding basics to advanced development techniques.
GOV. LAWAL INAUGURATES GOVERNING COUNCILS FOR ZAMFARA STATE-OWNED TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS
On Tuesday, Governor Dauda Lawal inaugurated the governing councils and boards of the six Zamfara state-owned tertiary institutions.
The inaugurated councils and boards include Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara, Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata Mafara, and the College of Education, Maru.
Other institutions are the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Gusau; College of Health Sciences and Technology, Tsafe; and College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Bakura.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said the constitution of the councils and boards fulfills the adoption of the government whitepaper on the visitation panels’ report.
The statement added that the visitation panels’ report thoroughly assessed the state government-owned tertiary educational institutions.
In his remarks, Governor Lawal stressed that the event signifies another significant milestone in his administration’s efforts to rescue the state’s educational sector from collapse.
He said: “The councils and boards inaugurated today are expected to improve the management and administration of our tertiary institutions significantly. By leveraging on the expertise and, of course, the dedication of these distinguished individuals, we anticipate a new era of academic excellence in our higher learning institutions.
“Over the past 20 months, we have taken decisive steps to address the rot in the sector and restore the lost glory of education in the state.
“Some of these measures include massive reconstruction, rehabilitation, and furnishing of primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions in the state, as well as a negotiation settlement of outstanding WAEC and NECO examination fees.
“My government also settled the counterpart funds to facilitate full access to the required support from development partners; Settlement of salary, pension, and gratuity arrears for civil servants and retirees, including teachers, and the prompt payment of their monthly salaries and pensions.
“To build on these and the many successes recorded, we have meticulously appointed individuals with vast knowledge and experience in the education sector and a proven track record of integrity to serve as Chairmen and Members of the Governing Councils of the six state-owned tertiary institutions.
“Given the composition of the Governing Councils, it is clear that each of these distinguished individuals understands what it takes to handle the enormous task ahead and will accordingly rise to the occasion.
“The Government and the good people of Zamfara State place high expectations on you, and there is no doubt that you are well-suited for this crucial assignment. Your roles are critical in addressing the various challenges confronting tertiary institutions in the state.
The governor congratulated members of the councils and boards and urged them to use their vast experience and expertise to advance their respective institutions.
“This should include collaborative efforts and engagements with development partners to tackle funding challenges.
“With these remarks, it is my honor and privilege to officially inaugurate the Governing Councils and Boards of the following six state-owned tertiary institutions in Zamfara State.”
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor January 30, 2025
GOV. LAWAL COMMENDS DSS FOR INTERCEPTING ARMS CACHE IN ZAMFARA, SAYS BANDITRY ON THE DECLINE
Governor Dauda Lawal commended the Department of State Services for intercepting an arms shipment bound for Zamfara State.
On Tuesday, the Department of State Services director in Zamfara displayed the intercepted weapons and ammunition to the governor at the government house in Gusau.
A statement by the spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that the intercepted weapons comprised a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), Two Machine Guns, Nine AK47 rifles, Two Pistols, Nineteen Magazines, and more than a thousand live rounds of ammunition.
The statement also noted that the suspected gunrunner was followed by Department of State Services personnel from the Niger Republic and was arrested on the Zurmi/Kauran Namoda highway in Zamfara State.
While examining the intercepted weapons, Governor Dauda Lawal highlighted the fruitful collaboration between the troops and the Zamfara State government in combating banditry.
“I must praise the troops, the military, the DSS, and the police, especially the Department of State Services, for successfully executing such a significant arrest.
“I want to emphasize that these successes, along with others in addressing banditry in the state, are a result of the collaboration and support provided by the Zamfara State government to all security forces.
“We will continue to support the troops in whatever way we can to encourage them to keep up their good work.
“It will be interesting to know that most of these criminals are indigenes of Zamfara. They’re not foreigners, and this arrested individual is not the only one. We have had more over the last few weeks, but this is the only one we present to the public. Such arrests have occurred daily.
“Banditry is declining in Zamfara. We have seen that. I urged the people of Zamfara to give all the necessary support to the troops.
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor January 29, 2025
GOV. LAWAL ASSURES CORPS MEMBERS’ SAFETY AND SECURITY AS NYSC ORIENTATION RESUMES IN ZAMFARA
Governor Dauda Lawal has promised corps members that his administration is dedicated to ensuring their well-being, safety, and security across Zamfara State.
The governor declared the NYSC 2024 Batch ‘C,’ Stream 2 orientation course open on Friday at the temporary camp at the UBEC Training Center in Gusau.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said the NYSC orientation camp resumed in Zamfara a few months ago with the 2024 Batch ‘C,’ stream 1.
The statement added that camping activities have resumed in Zamfara due to the return of peace and a significant decrease in banditry throughout the state.
Governor Lawal inspected the quarter guard mounted by the Corps Members and mounted the saluting dais before declaring the orientation course open.
In his remark, the governor said the NYSC scheme has genuinely promoted national integration and provided various communities with a highly skilled and resourceful workforce.
“We, in Zamfara State, feel the impact of skilled services provided by youth corps members across all sectors of the economy. They contribute selflessly to key areas like education, health, and agriculture.
“The scheme has indeed complemented the government’s efforts in meeting the yearnings and aspirations of our teeming populace. Therefore, the resumption of NYSC Orientation activities in Zamfara State marks a significant milestone in our journey to restoring the needed confidence and stability in the state.
“We appreciate your contributions and assure you of the government’s support for the scheme’s objectives. We will provide incentives to help you make Zamfara State your new home.
“As educated youths, you share a common responsibility of contributing to shaping the destiny of this nation. You are role models to millions of other youths nationwide whose personal conduct is a source of emulation.
“I assure you of our commitment to guaranteeing your well-being, safety, and security wherever you might be posted for your primary assignments.
“Our people are known for their rich hospitality and peaceful coexistence. Feel free to engage with them and respect their cultural and religious values to gain their trust. I’m confident you will live harmoniously with your host communities and have a memorable national service.
“I would like to call on you to explore the abundant opportunities in the state during your stay. I hope that after your service year, you will take advantage of some of these opportunities, such as those in agriculture.
The governor further stressed that his administration has made significant achievements in building and upgrading infrastructure over the past 20 months.
“The declaration of a state of emergency on education and health has allowed the state to focus greater attention on these and many other critical sectors.
“We are now in the dawn of a new Zamfara State, with great promise to the teeming populace of the state, including people from other parts of the country who want to partake in this journey.
“On behalf of all the good people of Zamfara State, I welcome you to our dear state, the home of Farming and Solid Minerals. I urge you to take this orientation seriously and attend all your lectures. With this, I am honored and pleased to declare the NYSC 2024 Batch ‘C,’ Stream 2, orientation course open. I wish you God’s guidance and an advantageous service year.”
Earlier, the NYSC Zamfara State Coordinator, Mallam Muhammed Lawan Ahmed, praised Governor Lawal for his government’s support in ensuring the scheme’s success.
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor January 24, 2025
ZAMFARA SET TO LAUNCH SOCIAL PROTECTION POLICY AND LAW, GOV. LAWAL TELLS UNICEF
Governor Dauda Lawal has expressed his administration’s readiness to launch the Zamfara State Social Protection Policy and Law.
On Wednesday, the governor received the UNICEF country representative and other donor partners at the government house in Gusau.
A statement by the spokesperson of the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that Cristian Munduate, the UNICEF representative for Nigeria, expressed satisfaction regarding the progress in the Zamfara Health sector.
The statement added that UNICEF, GAVI, WHO, and representatives of the Nigerian Governors Forum were present at the dissemination meeting of the Zamfara state social laws and policy.
In his remarks, Governor Lawal emphasized that the Zamfara State Gender Policy is a significant step towards dismantling barriers and fostering an inclusive environment for all individuals to access opportunities.
“In addition to the Gender Policy, we are also launching the Zamfara State Social Protection Policy and Law. These documents are critical in ensuring that our social systems are robust and responsive to the needs of our people, particularly the most vulnerable.
“The Child Protection Law and its Implementation Strategy reinforce our commitment to safeguarding children’s rights and well-being. As the foundation of our future, we must ensure they have a safe, nurturing environment to achieve their potential.
“The Zamfara State Disability Law demonstrates our commitment to upholding the rights of persons with disabilities. It seeks to eliminate discrimination, enhance accessibility, and promote their inclusion in society. We have involved key stakeholders, including persons with disabilities, to ensure their voices are heard.
“Accordingly, the law will be reviewed for greater inclusiveness, and a board will be established to address the specific needs of the disabled community.”
Governor Lawal further stressed that his administration inherited a health sector in a monumental crisis.
“To realize this and attain our goal of universal access to quality and affordable healthcare, we declared a state of emergency in the health sector.
“For example, through the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), the state government renovated 61 health facilities, including 10 General Hospitals, and intervened in 51 other primary health clinics.
“With direct state government funding, we renovated and upgraded Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital and the General Hospitals in Talata Mafara and Shinkafi, converting them to Zonal Referral Specialist Hospitals.
“We also commenced the construction of a VVF Centre for managing maternal complications and approved the construction of an advanced diagnostic center as part of our commitment to delivering quality healthcare.
“Our efforts, supported by all partners here, have already begun yielding results across all health system building blocks.
“We successfully halted the circulation of mutant poliovirus in Zamfara State and recorded a significant reduction in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, such as measles, meningitis, and yellow fever. In 2024, our state recorded only two cases of diphtheria despite large-scale outbreaks in neighboring states.
“We also invested significantly in rehabilitating the College of Nursing and Midwifery in Gusau and renovating the College for Health Science and Technology in Tsafe.
The governor appreciated the partnership of UNICEF with the state, and the interventions made an intentional impact.
“On investments made by GAVI in our state, we are particularly grateful for your connecting 50 of our primary healthcare centers with solar power, which enables them to provide 24-hour services efficiently.”
“This project enhances our capacity to store and distribute vaccines to service points. Your investment in motorized solar boreholes and toilets at 29 healthcare centers improves comfort for workers and patients, strengthening community ties to health facilities.
“We appreciate your support in enrolling 33,000 vulnerable women and children in the state health insurance scheme. This project is one of the most impactful ever, and we are dedicated to sustaining its gains.”
Earlier, Cristian Munduate, the UNICEF representative for Nigeria, said it is the first time globally that GAVI has decided to support the subnational health system. “We are happy because the results in Zamara are seen, and this will motivate GAVI to continue supporting health interventions at this level and not only at the national interventions.”
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor January 23, 2025
GOV. LAWAL DISTRIBUTES VEHICLES FOR SANITATION, COMMITS TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN ZAMFARA
Governor Dauda Lawal has expressed his administration’s commitment to environmental sustainability and policies encouraging green practices in Zamfara State.
On Tuesday, the governor launched the distribution of vehicles and various working tools for the Zamfara Youth Sanitation Programme at the Government House in Gusau.
A statement by the governor’s spokesman, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that the distribution is a broader framework of the Keep Zamfara Clean Initiative, which includes ten dumping trucks, four sweeping machines, two sweeping trucks, and 65 motorcycles.
The statement added that the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) program had supplied 450 plastic trash bins for public offices and 55 iron-steel trash bins for urban communities.
In his remark, Governor Dauda Lawal emphasized that a clean and healthy environment attracts investments, boosts tourism, and promotes the overall well-being of the people of Zamfara State.
“This event marks another significant milestone in our efforts over the past 20 months to Rescue Zamfara State.
“The Zamfara Youth Empowerment Programme is designed to empower our vibrant and energetic youth by engaging them in meaningful activities to improve sanitation across the state.
“This initiative goes beyond enhancing sanitation; it provides employment opportunities and cultivates entrepreneurial skills. We hope that by participating in these activities, our young people will gain valuable experience and a sense of responsibility towards their communities.
“Through ZAYOSAP, we are also investing in the future of our youth. We are equipping them with essential tools and knowledge that will prepare them to become future leaders and agents of positive change in their communities. This holistic approach to youth empowerment and environmental sustainability will undoubtedly yield lasting benefits for our state.
“As we launch this program today, we set a precedent for future generations. I hope this program will serve as a model for three other states and inspire similar initiatives across Nigeria.
“It is evident that as we build critical infrastructure across the state, proper sanitation is essential for their longevity and proper functioning. Clean streets, markets, and public spaces reflect the values of a progressive society. I urge all stakeholders, including community leaders, traditional rulers, and all our people, to support this initiative by embracing the culture of cleanliness.
“With these remarks, I am pleased to formally launch the Zamfara Youth Empowerment Programme. I call on the good people of our dear state to support this initiative and work collectively towards achieving the goals of a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous Zamfara State.”
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor January 21, 2025
The Executive Secretary Habib Gajam, Ph.D., together with his team, attended a high-level meeting on the upcoming Stakeholder Engagement on the draft Zamfara Digital Literacy Framework (ZDLF). The meeting was hosted by Lawal Hussain, Ph.D., Permanent Secretary Cabinet Affairs in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.
Having successfully automated the Zamfara State Executive Council Chamber, Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency – ZITDA had the pleasure of also demonstrating the newly developed Government House Visitors Management System to H.E Dauda Lawal Govzamfara
With the setting up of the mini data centre in the Government House, we are also on course to deploying Phase 1 of the Zamfara Electronic Governance Platform (e-GovConnect).
EDUCATION: GOV. LAWAL APPROVES EMPLOYMENT OF 2, 000 TEACHERS IN ZAMFARA
Governor Dauda Lawal has approved the employment of 2,000 teachers across Zamfara State.
The governor made the announcement while presiding over the Executive Council meeting on Monday at the government house council chamber in Gusau.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that the planned recruitment of teachers fulfills promises made during the campaign.
The statement noted that education, being the second priority of Governor Lawal’s administration, has received significant attention and is already yielding desired results.
“Governor Dauda Lawal, in his commitment to revamp education in Zamfara state, has, on November 14, 2023, declared a state of emergency in the educational sector of Zamfara State.
“The emergency response by the Zamara government under Governor Lawal includes the construction and renovation of more than 400 schools across the 14 local government areas of the State.
“Provision of two-seater desks for pupils and students, totaling over 12, 000 across schools in the 14 local government areas and equipping the constructed and renovated over 400 schools with over 700 tables and 1,000 chairs for teachers across the 14 local government areas.”
In his remarks at the council meeting, Governor Lawal said the recruitment of teachers is part of his government’s activities in 2025. “The government will employ 2,000 qualified teachers to help improve and revitalize the education sector.
“The teachers are to be employed in phases to ensure that the right people of quality to address especially critical areas of need in our schools are employed without any wrongdoing.
“The recruitment is part of the AGILE Program and aims to completely reverse the rot in the education sector and improve the quality of teaching and students in our schools throughout the state.
“We are starting with employing 500 teachers in the first quarter of this year. In the first instance, emphasis should be placed on teachers in critical subjects like English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, ICT, and Entrepreneurship studies.”
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor January 16, 2025
