The administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and a strong working relationship with journalists—key pillars it says are essential to strengthening good governance in Kano State.
Governor Yusuf stated this on Sunday while addressing participants at the 2025 Retreat of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), which concluded over the weekend in Kaduna. He was represented by Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
According to him, the administration is driven by democratic values rooted in openness and accountability, insisting that only transparent governance can guarantee the effective delivery of the dividends of democracy to citizens.
The governor commended the Correspondents’ Chapel for what he described as a groundbreaking decision to hold its annual professional retreat outside Kano—an initiative he said would deepen professionalism, strengthen internal capacity, and foster more meaningful engagement with stakeholders.
“Retreats such as this are vital not only for sharpening professional skills but also for strengthening partnership between government and the media in the service of our people,” Governor Yusuf said.
This year’s retreat, themed “Emerging Trends in Journalism: Impacts of AI, News Sources, and Digitally Driven Newsrooms in Modern Journalism; Tasks Ahead of Journalists,” brought together journalists, academics, and legal practitioners to examine the fast-changing realities of media practice.
The governor expressed confidence that participants would return better equipped to navigate the digital, ethical, and mental-health challenges confronting the modern newsroom. He described the theme as timely, noting the disruptions caused by artificial intelligence, accelerated news cycles, and heightened pressure on journalists.
He cited the quality of presentations at the retreat, including a lead paper by Professor Sule Yau Sule on fostering cordial relationships between journalists and government, a legal session on the boundaries of defamation, and a paper on mental-health precautions for journalists coping with tight deadlines and high-pressure assignments.
“These are issues that speak directly to the realities of day-to-day journalism. I am confident that the entire period spent here has been judiciously utilized,” he added.
On the relationship between his administration and the media, Governor Yusuf noted that journalists in Kano for their professionalism and fairness, even amid what he described as a “daunting political atmosphere.” He said responsible reporting had contributed significantly to the state’s progress by helping citizens better understand government programmes.
He emphasised that his administration operates an open-door policy to ensure unrestricted access to credible information, stressing that a well-informed citizenry remains the foundation of good governance.
The governor also appreciated the leadership of the Correspondents’ Chapel, led by Murtala Adewale, for maintaining professionalism and serving the public interest.
He reaffirmed government support to the Chapel, citing recent interventions such as the approval of seed funding for its Cooperative Society and logistical support for hosting the retreat.
“The government will not be tired of supporting your welfare and providing assistance that will make your work easier and more productive,” he assured.
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Earlier in his remarks, Murtala Adewale said the Chapel chose to host the retreat outside Kano to provide participants with a distraction-free environment conducive for deep reflection. He noted that Kaduna was chosen due to its close affinity with Kano.
Adewale thanked the Kano State Government for supporting the programme, assuring that the investment would further strengthen the already cordial relationship between the government and journalists.
The three-day retreat was attended by Ibrahim Abdullahi-Waiya, Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs; Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, the Governor’s spokesperson; and two Special Advisers on Information and Publicity, while officials of the NUJ councils of Kano and Kaduna were also present.
