By Musa Tanko Muhammad,
As Kano State awaits the outcome of the screening of Alhaji Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, nominated by His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, for appointment as Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, there is growing optimism that his anticipated emergence could herald a defining moment in the state’s information management and public communication landscape.
In the evolving world of governance, where information management, strategic communication, public perception and institutional credibility have become indispensable instruments of effective administration, the choice of individuals entrusted with such responsibilities deserves careful consideration.
It is against this background that the nomination of Alhaji Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, for screening by the Kano State House of Assembly as the prospective Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs is being received with considerable optimism and high expectations.
For many who have followed his professional journey, the nomination represents more than an opportunity to occupy public office.
It is an opportunity to bring years of professional exposure, multidisciplinary academic advancement, international development experience and practical communication expertise to bear on one of the most strategic ministries in the Kano State Government.
Indeed, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa is not a newcomer to the world of communication, public relations and institutional engagement.
His professional journey reflects a remarkable blend of journalism, development advocacy, corporate administration, stakeholder relations and strategic political communication.
Currently serving as the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano, he coordinates the media and publicity architecture of the Kano State Government under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
His emergence into the mainstream of the state’s political communication structure dates back to March 2023, when he was appointed Chief Press Secretary to the Governor-elect during the transition period.
He subsequently rose to the position of Director-General, Media and Publicity, a responsibility that has placed him at the centre of government communication, media relations and public information management.
A professional journey built on experience and exposure
What makes Bature’s professional profile particularly interesting is the breadth of experience he has accumulated across different sectors before his entry into government.
Beginning with journalism, he developed an appreciation of the power of information, the responsibility of public enlightenment and the importance of communicating issues that affect society.
He subsequently expanded his professional engagements into international development, programme coordination and corporate management.
His professional exposure includes engagements with reputable international development organisations and initiatives such as the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Save the Children International, Discovery Learning Alliance and the Rockefeller Foundation.
His previous responsibilities included General Manager, Corporate Services, Dantata Foods and Allied Products Limited; Director of Stakeholder Engagement under the Nigeria YieldWise Project; Country Programme Manager of the Girl Rising (ENGAGE) Project; State Project Coordinator of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Campaign Project; and Deputy Director of Operations at Discovery Learning Alliance.
He also served as Vice President, Nigeria Operations, of Kingston Organic PLC, a United Kingdom-based company.
These engagements have afforded him valuable experience in organisational leadership, programme management, stakeholder mobilisation, public advocacy and development communication.
His academic profile equally reflects a commitment to continuous learning and professional advancement.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from the University of Maiduguri, following his National Diploma in Mass Communication from Kaduna Polytechnic.
He further obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Education and Promotion, a Master of Science degree in Social Work, specialising in Community Development, from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, and a Master’s degree in Public Relations from Bayero University, Kano.
He also participated in a Master’s programme in Project Management at Robert Kennedy College, Zurich, Switzerland.
This combination of academic disciplines provides a broad intellectual foundation for understanding communication not merely as the dissemination of information, but as a strategic instrument for social development, institutional management and public engagement.
Recognition, professional accomplishments and community commitment
Bature’s professional contributions have attracted recognition at different stages of his career. In 2008, he received the Cambridge Education Award for Investigative Journalism, an early recognition of his commitment to professional journalism.
In December 2023, he emerged Political Communicator of the Year at the Arewa Agenda Awards, organised in partnership with PRNigeria.
In 2024, he received the Most Outstanding Spokesperson of the Year Award in the Executive Arm category at the National Spokespersons Awards, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information.
Beyond his professional engagements, he has maintained a commendable interest in the educational and developmental advancement of his home community, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area.
His contributions towards supporting students pursuing higher education, including assistance with registration fees and other educational needs, earned recognition from the Dawakin Tofa Academic Forum and Dawakin Tofa Education Trust Fund in August 2024.
Similarly, in June 2025, he was among individuals recognised by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, for contributions to community service in Dawakin Tofa.
These recognitions offer an insight into a professional whose engagements extend beyond official responsibilities to include community development, educational advancement and grassroots participation.
The expectations: A ministry that must regain its unity, strength and voice
With this background, the expectations surrounding his anticipated appointment are understandably enormous.
The Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs is not just another government establishment. It is the institutional voice of government, the bridge between public policy and citizens’ understanding, and a critical platform for promoting government achievements, public enlightenment, responsible media engagement and constructive relationships with stakeholders.
Unfortunately, the Ministry has, in recent times, experienced challenges that have affected its institutional cohesion, working relationships and collective professional strength.
There is, therefore, an urgent need for deliberate leadership that can rebuild confidence, restore mutual respect and reposition the entire information management family towards a common purpose.
This is perhaps the most important responsibility awaiting Alhaji Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa should he successfully emerge as Commissioner.
The Ministry needs more than administrative supervision; it needs purposeful leadership capable of bringing people together, reconciling differences, restoring professional dignity and creating an atmosphere in which every department, agency and individual stakeholder feels valued and recognised as an integral part of one institution.
The restoration of unity must be a priority. Staff members and stakeholders must rediscover the understanding that their collective strength lies not in individual interests or departmental divisions, but in their ability to work together as one professional family.
The Ministry must regain its confidence, its voice and its institutional relevance. Its workforce must be encouraged to appreciate that the success of the information sector is a shared responsibility, requiring cooperation, mutual respect, discipline and a renewed commitment to professional excellence.
Given Bature’s background in strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, programme coordination and institutional management, there is considerable confidence that he possesses the requisite experience and professional disposition to provide the leadership required for this important assignment.
With the cooperation of the workforce and the necessary institutional support, we are optimistic that meaningful progress could be achieved within a relatively short period.
More importantly, Kano State has the opportunity to build an information management system that will not only serve the needs of the present administration but also establish a lasting institutional legacy worthy of emulation across Nigeria.
A golden opportunity and a defining responsibility
Alhaji Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, this is a defining moment in your professional journey.
Your nomination presents an opportunity to translate years of experience, academic investment, international exposure and professional accomplishments into measurable institutional progress.
It is an opportunity to demonstrate that the knowledge and experience acquired across different professional environments can be brought together to transform a strategic government institution.
You have the opportunity to consolidate your professional achievements, strengthen your leadership credentials and establish a legacy that could earn you even greater national and international recognition in the future.
This is the ladder. This is the gateway. This is the bridge to even greater responsibilities and opportunities that may lie ahead.
However, the true measure of this opportunity will not be the title attached to the office, but the positive difference your leadership will make in the lives of the people, the fortunes of the Ministry and the overall development of Kano State.
Our earnest appeal is that you make institutional unity, professional reconciliation, capacity development, mutual respect and strategic repositioning the defining pillars of your anticipated leadership.
Let the Ministry become a place where experience is respected, fresh ideas are encouraged, professional differences are constructively managed and every member of the workforce is motivated to contribute meaningfully to collective success.
Appreciation to the governor and prayers for success
We must also acknowledge the foresight of His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, in considering Alhaji Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa for this important responsibility.
The nomination is an indication of confidence in the professional capacity and experience of an individual considered capable of contributing to the administration’s governance and communication objectives.
We sincerely appreciate His Excellency for this consideration and pray that Almighty Allah continues to guide him in making decisions that will advance the development and prosperity of Kano State.
To Alhaji Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, our congratulations on this important nomination.
As you approach the screening process and the anticipated assumption of this responsibility, may Almighty Allah grant you wisdom, courage, patience and the necessary support to rise to the expectations ahead.
Above all, may Allah guide you towards restoring unity, strengthening professional relationships and bringing renewed dignity and purpose to our beloved Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs.
The opportunity is significant, the expectations are high, and the responsibility is enormous. May your anticipated tenure become a reference point for institutional renewal and professional excellence in Kano State.
May Almighty Allah make the journey successful and grant you the wisdom to make a lasting difference.
Congratulations, Alhaji Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
Musa Tanko Muhammad, Press Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Kano State.