From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
As part of its golden jubilee celebration, Kano State government has bestowed special honours on 82 eminent personalities, including expatriates who had contributed to the development of the state.
Foremost among the awardees were former Heads of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammad and Gen. Sani Abacha, all past military and civilian governors of the state, the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, his maternal uncle, Alhaji Aminu Dantata and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state. Other recipients of the awards included Islamic religious leaders, public officials, traditional leaders, politicians and businessmen, among others. In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje stated that individual and collective efforts of citizens, especially the founding fathers and other patriotic people made Kano State to stand tall among its peers.
According to Ganduje, the awards would stimulate people to contribute towards the development of the state, adding that his administration would forward a bill to the state assembly to make the Merit Awards a permanent affair in the scheme of things.