Dr. Tijjani Sarki

 CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DAY: NIGERIA AT A DIGITAL CROSSROAD By Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy Analyst INTRODUCING THE GLOBAL IT DAY: A CALL TO ACTION: International Information Technology Day, observed annually on September 24, was established in the early 2000s by global tech advocates and educational institutions to celebrate the transformative power of digital technology. Over the years, it has evolved into a platform for raising awareness about the critical role of IT in driving innovation, improving governance, transforming education, and promoting sustainable development across the globe. Every September, the world pauses to celebrate International Information Technology Day a day that highlights the indispensable role of technology in shaping the future of our planet. The theme for 2025, "Leveraging Information Technology for a Sustainable Future," is not just timely, it’s a clarion call for nations like Nigeria to pr...

 COMMISSIONER SAGAGI’S VISIT MUST SPARK REAL CHANGE IN KANO’S URBAN AND ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE By Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy Analyst August 27, 2025 The recent visit by the Honorable Commissioner of Commerce, Hon. Gwani Shehu Sagagi, to the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning under Hon. Abduljabbar Umar marks a critical turning point or at least it should in Kano State’s approach to economic development and urban planning. It is a move worth commending, and one that should spark not just hope, but action. Yet, while we appreciate the intent and potential of this strategic meeting, we must confront a hard truth, it is deeply unfortunate and frankly unacceptable that Kano Metropolis, home to the state capital and at least eight local governments, cannot boast of a single standard, medium-scale market. Worse still, many of the once-thriving industrial layouts in areas like Sharada have tragically morphed into warehouses, guest houses, or event centres a fa...

 AFTER NAMADI’S EXIT:TIME TO RECLAIM AND REBUILD KANO’S TROUBLED TRANSPORT SECTOR By Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy Analyst Writing from ZAWACIKI, Kano 7th August, 2025 Now that the embattled Alhaji Ibrahim Namadi has resigned as Honourable Commissioner of Transport, one thing is clear,the transport sector in Kano is in urgent need of a reset. But with his exit comes a rare opportunity for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to take bold action and reposition a ministry that has been crippled by internal dysfunction, allegations of incompetence, and a backlog of critical memos. Despite being publicly criticized as incompetent, Namadi submitted over 30 official memos to the governor, many allegedly ignored, sidelined, or marked “KIV” (Keep In View). If those memos were worthless, why were they not outright rejected? And if they contained sound policy proposals, why were they left to gather dust while the people suffer? To complicate matters further, Permanent Secreta...

 RELOCATION COMMENDED, BUT KURMAWA MUSEUM PLAN MISGUIDED: RETURN TO GIRLS’ EDUCATION VISION NEEDED BY Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate and  Public Policy ananlyst  The recent announcement by the Kano State Government to convert the historic Kurmawa Maximum Security Prison into a museum has stirred a mixture of emotion and concern in the hearts of many. As a proud indigene of Kano and a concerned citizen, I feel compelled to speak out not in opposition to preserving our history, but in questioning the wisdom of this particular move. Kurmawa Prison, built in 1910 by the British colonial government within the revered grounds of the Kano Emir’s Palace, is undeniably a significant colonial relic. For over a century, it has stood not just as a correctional facility but as a symbol of the imposition of foreign rule on our people,a painful but important reminder of our past. However, transforming this space into a museum at this moment raises serious concerns about our prio...

 WHEN THE LAW FAILS THE PEOPLE: A NECESSARY RESPONSE TO THE ADVISORY AGAINST CREATING KANO STATE DRUG CONTROL AGENCY By Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate & Public Policy Analyst 15th August 2025 I did not set out to write this. But after reading the “Polite Advisory” addressed to His Excellency, the Governor of Kano State, dated 14th August 2025, authored by Pharmacist Ahmed Ibrahim Umar, I feel morally and publicly compelled to respond not as a legal adversary, but as a fellow Nigerian who is tired of seeing our people, especially the youth, being consumed by the monster of drug abuse while we debate legal technicalities. This is personal. I have been directly involved in the multi-stakeholder effort to establish the Kano State Drugs and Substance Abuse Control Agency  from policy drafting to advocacy to legislative engagement. And I know that this is not just a legal debate,it is a fight for survival. Yes, the advisory is respectful, professional, and technically co...

 TRANSPORT IS LIFE: KANO CAN NOT BREATHE WITHOUT IT THE URGENT CALL TO RESCUE A CITY’S FUTURE By Tijjani Sarki Good Governance Advocate & Public Policy Analyst Kano’s transport system is in crisis not because of a lack of vision, planning, or support, but because of a consistent failure to implement. Over the past decade, more than 20 detailed technical studies, strategic reports, and development frameworks have been produced for Kano’s transport sector including the most recent and comprehensive 2024 Transport Sector Dialogue Report. These documents represent more than just paper. They provide clear, actionable solutions from regulatory reform to climate-conscious transit planning  ready for deployment. With the right leadership and technical expertise, Kano is not just ready to bounce back, it is positioned to experience unprecedented rapid growth, becoming a model city not just for Northern Nigeria, but for the entire nation. Yet, one core issue continues to cripple pro...

 An Open Letter to the Executive Governor of Kano State: A Call for Justice and Action Over the Killing of Our Youths in Benue State Your Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, Executive Governor of Kano State. Sir, With a heart weighed down by grief and a soul stirred by sorrow, I write to bring to your urgent attention a painful and tragic development the killing of two innocent youths from Kano State in  Benue state. The news of this cruel loss has sent waves of anguish across every corner of our beloved state. We are mourning, we are in shock, and we are in desperate need of justice. These young men were not strangers to us. They were sons of Kano, full of hopes, aspirations, and dreams like every youth born of this noble state. Their lives were filled with promise,until it was brutally and unjustly ended in a land far from home. This is more than an unfortunate event, it is a tragedy that strikes at the heart of every parent, every neighbor, and every leader who holds the s...