Sham’unu Ishaq, a first-class graduate, gains employment after a viral video showed him selling sachet water to make ends meet.

Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda has offered immediate employment to Sham’unu Ishaq, a first-class graduate from Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, whose story recently went viral. The young graduate had resorted to selling sachet water on the streets to support his family after struggling to find a job post-graduation.

In a statement, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula, confirmed the appointment, emphasizing that Ishaq’s exceptional academic record in Education and Biology should be celebrated, not left unnoticed. “Academic excellence should be rewarded, not relegated to the streets,” Kaula said.

The video, which captured widespread attention, shows Ishaq describing his struggles as a street hawker, with earnings barely covering his basic needs. Ishaq appealed to the governor and Nigerians at large for help, stating his willingness to take on any job.

Governor Radda has consistently supported high-achieving graduates, recently offering automatic employment to top students from local institutions. His administration, he noted, is dedicated to harnessing the talents of Katsina’s brightest minds to build a stronger future for the state.

A gas explosion in the Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State has left multiple people injured and caused significant property damage, including the destruction of two houses and severe damage to seven vehicles. The incident occurred in the early hours of the day, though the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown.
Eyewitnesses reported that a truck carrying gas cylinders, en route from Niger Republic to the Magamar Jibia area, exploded unexpectedly.
The Katsina State Police Command confirmed the incident, with its spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq, stating that the explosion happened around 8:45 am. Police at the Jibia Divisional Headquarters responded quickly after hearing a loud noise.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Jibia Local Government Area led a joint team, including military personnel, to the site at Tamal filling station on Kagadama–Magamar Jibia Road. Emergency responders managed to contain the flames and prevent further destruction, ensuring no loss of life.

Police spokesman Sadiq reported that six motor vehicles were heavily damaged but noted that lives were spared due to the swift response. Katsina State Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, has ordered an investigation to determine the cause of the explosion, and updates will follow as more details emerge.

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

In an effort to curb malaria prevalence among boarding school students in Jigawa state, an insecticide Treated Net (ITNs) manufacturing company “BASF” has donated mosquito nets to the students of Science and Technical College, Hadejia of the state.

Speaking while presenting the mosquito treated nets BASF Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Country Cluster, West Africa, Dr Jean-Marc Ricca, said the gesture is to protect the students against malaria while in school.

The chief executive officer explained that it is also to complement the state government and other partners efforts in reducing prevalence of malaria in the state and the nation in general.

According to him “I’m happy to present 800 number of ITNs to you as part of our contribution to prevent and curb prevalence of malaria especially in these rainy season where staganent water and grasses that bread mosquito are all over. We would also retrieve old nets from the students to be recycled for other uses”.

Dr Jean-Marc Ricca added saying that the exercise will be an opportunity for the students to discover recycling for cleaner environment”
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He noted that the mosquito treated nets donation is not part of the main ITNs distribution to households in the state, but a new component of it called ‘End of Life’, under which old nets are retrieved from communities for recycled for cleaner and healthy environment.

Also, the Director Nature Conservation, Ministry of Environment, Mr Ibrahim Lawan, commended the manufacturer’s for retrieving the old nets for recycling as they are not degradable.

Lawan, who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Nura Ibrahim, indicated that the state government is also collaborating with NGOs and other partners in recycling such non degradable materials for cleaner environment.

He explained that in order to make the environment clean, such materials are being collected and taken to industries for recycling purposes.

On his part, the Director Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health, Pharm. Rabiu Yakubu, also commended the firm for supporting the state in the fight against malaria.

Yakubu indicated the gesture will go a long way in protecting the students against malaria.
The director, who spoke on behalf of the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Mohammad Kainuwa, called on the beneficiaries to ensure that they sleep under the nets in order to achieve the desired goal.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Deputy Head of Student of the college, Usman Harisu, commended the firm for the gesture.