Prior to Exit, Ganduje Commissions Multi-Million Naira NUJ Plaza NUJ

Prior to Exit, Ganduje Commissions Multi-Million Naira NUJ Plaza

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

The immediate past Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, before his exit  commissioned a multi- million naira Kano NUJ Plaza constructed by his administration and donated to the state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Ganduje also commissioned the NUJ Conference hall which he rehabilitated and modernised to enable the union host local and international conferences in order to generate revenue to finance its services.

Performing the two functions simultaneously at the NUJ Secretariat by Farm Centre road in Kano on Sunday, he explained that his government constructed the plaza and rehabilitated the conference hall to appreciate and reward the good working relationship that existed between his administration and journalists in the state.

He  commended working journalists in the state for informing, educating and enlightening the people of the state on the policies and programmes of his administration during its eight-year tenure.

The gesture he said would help to consolidate, enrich and sustain the good working relationship between the journalists and the government and people of the state.

Earlier in his speech, the immediate past Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba, thanked his boss, the governor, for contributing immensely to his progression in his journalism and public service careers, including his rise to become the President of the NUJ and the President of the West African Journalists Association (WAJA).

Garba also appreciated the governor for appointing him as his Chief Press Secretary when he (Ganduje) was the Deputy Governor of Kano State, and also when he became governor appointed him as his Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, a position he held for eight years.

He said the position enabled him to initiate and actualise the legacy projects – the Plaza and Conference Hall rehabilitation at the Kano NUJ secretariat, thanking the governor for constructing and donating the 24-shop plaza to the NUJ and modernising the conference hall for the union.

The commissioner expressed delight that he was leaving behind the two legacy projects for which he will be remembered by working journalists and the people of the state for a long time to come.

In their separate remarks, the President of the NUJ, Mr Chris Isuguzo,  represented by the NUJ Deputy National President, Malam Alhassan Yahaya, and the Chairman of Kano NUJ, Malam Abbas Ibrahim, also thanked Ganduje for the gesture.

High point of the occasion was the presentation of awards to both the governor and Garba for their good services to humanity.

(NAN)