By Usman Usman Garba
The Secretary to the Kano State Government , Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim, has challenged journalists and media practitioners to give sustained attention to the developmental efforts and achievements of the Kano State Government, while maintaining their constitutional responsibility of holding public institutions accountable.
He made the call while addressing the 2026 Kaduna Retreat of the Kano Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), held from 11th to 14th September, 2026, at Pyramaid Hotel, Kaduna.
The retreat, organised under the theme, “2027 General Elections: Navigating Legal, Security and Ethical Challenges in the Media,” brought together journalists, media practitioners, political analysts, election stakeholders and other relevant personalities to deliberate on the role of the media in the forthcoming general elections and democratic development.
The SSG, who was represented at the occasion by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Mustafa Muhammad, said journalists occupied a strategic position in shaping society, stressing that their responsibility went beyond reporting events to informing citizens, holding public institutions accountable and providing credible platforms for communicating government policies, programmes and interventions.
Speaking on the central topic, “Why Journalists Should Tell the Story of Kano State Government’s Developmental Efforts,” Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim said the subject was particularly relevant at a time Kano State was witnessing significant developmental activities under the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
He urged members of the Kano Correspondents Chapel to document and report the physical and socio-economic transformation taking place across the state, noting that citizens had the right to know how public resources were being utilised and the extent to which government policies and projects were impacting their lives.
According to him, development journalism should not be mistaken for government propaganda, but should involve independent identification, investigation and reporting of policies, projects and interventions with measurable consequences for citizens.
He urged journalists to go beyond reporting the commissioning of infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals, water facilities and markets, and investigate their quality, implementation, beneficiaries, timelines and broader impact on communities.
The SSG also cited interventions in education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, women development, employment, environmental protection, infrastructure and social investment as areas deserving sustained media attention.
He, however, emphasised that highlighting developmental achievements should not prevent the media from drawing government’s attention to the needs and concerns of citizens.
“That does not mean we would not remind the government of the needs and concerns of the people. It is called constructive criticism. This is how journalism can contribute meaningfully to development,” he said.
Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim further charged the media to maintain a healthy balance between constructive scrutiny of government and responsible reporting that recognises genuine developmental efforts, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
He observed that Kano, being one of Nigeria’s most populous, politically active and influential states, would attract considerable attention during the elections, with political competition likely to generate strong emotions, competing narratives and the risk of misinformation.
He therefore urged journalists to uphold the principles of accuracy, fairness, impartiality, balance and public interest in their election coverage.
The SSG cautioned against the publication or amplification of materials capable of inflaming ethnic, religious, regional or political divisions, stressing that journalists should exercise particular care when reporting allegations, campaign speeches, inflammatory statements and clashes involving political supporters.
He said sensationalism should never be allowed to take precedence over the responsibility of the media to protect peace and democratic participation.
According to him, every headline, photograph, video, social media post and broadcast has the potential to influence public perception and, in some circumstances, public behaviour.
He consequently called on journalists to use their platforms to promote peaceful political engagement, responsible citizenship and a democratic culture capable of sustaining peace before, during and after the 2027 elections.
“Election will come and go, but our beloved city of Kano will remain,” the SSG said, urging journalists and other stakeholders to contribute to an atmosphere of peace, harmony and mutual respect irrespective of political differences.
Also speaking during the retreat, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Ahmad Maiyaki, underscored the strategic importance of Kano to the political direction of the North and Nigeria at large.
He described the retreat as timely, particularly with the 2027 general elections fast approaching, and stressed the need for journalists to play a constructive role in shaping public discourse and ensuring credible democratic processes.
Alhaji Maiyaki expressed optimism that if Kano got its political and media processes right through the meaningful contributions of journalists and other stakeholders, the forthcoming elections could contribute to building a better Nigeria.
The retreat featured presentations and interactive sessions by several resource persons, including online media practitioner Abdullatif Abubakar Jos, Barrister Yusuf AbdulSalam and a representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), among others.
Among personalities who attended the retreat were the Chairman of the Kaduna State Council of the NUJ, Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe; Special Adviser to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Social Media, Ibrahim Adam; the representative of the Director of State Services (DSS); the representative of the Chairman of the Kano State Council of the NUJ, Alhaji Mustafa Gambo Muhammad, popularly known as “The Capacity”; the Kaduna State Chairperson of the Correspondents Chapel; and Kano-based public analyst and commentator, Bash n Bash, alongside other journalists and stakeholders.
The Kano Correspondents Chapel was commended for organising the retreat, which provided an opportunity for journalists to reflect on their professional responsibilities, exchange ideas and strengthen their preparedness for the challenges associated with election reporting.
The SSG reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration between the Kano State Government and the media in the public interest, urging journalists to remain professional, responsible and committed to reporting issues that promote development, accountability, peace and democratic progress.