The Secretary to the Kano State Government (SSG), Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim, has urged 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.
The SSG made the call while addressing the 2026 Kaduna Retreat of the Kano Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), held from September 11 to 14, 2026, at Pyramid 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.
Represented by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Mustafa Muhammad, the SSG described journalists as occupying a strategic position in shaping society.
He said the responsibility of the media 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 topic, “Why Journalists Should Tell the Story of Kano State Government’s Developmental Efforts,” Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim said the issue was particularly important at a time when Kano State was witnessing various 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, stressing that citizens had the right to know how public resources were being utilised and the extent to which government policies and projects were improving their lives.
The SSG clarified that development journalism should not be confused with government propaganda, but should involve the independent identification, investigation and reporting of policies, projects and interventions based on their measurable impact on citizens.
He urged journalists to go beyond reporting the commissioning of roads, schools, hospitals, water facilities and markets by examining their quality, implementation, timelines, beneficiaries and broader impact on communities.
According to him, interventions in education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, women development, employment, environmental protection, infrastructure and social investment also deserve sustained media attention.
He, however, stressed that reporting government achievements should not prevent journalists from drawing 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.»
The SSG further charged journalists 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 noted that Kano, as one of Nigeria’s most populous, politically active and influential states, would attract significant 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.
Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim also cautioned journalists against publishing or amplifying materials capable of inflaming ethnic, religious, regional or political divisions.
He urged them to exercise particular care when reporting allegations, campaign speeches, inflammatory statements and clashes involving political supporters.
According to him, sensationalism should never take precedence over the responsibility of the media to protect peace and promote democratic participation.
He observed that every headline, photograph, video, social media post and broadcast had the potential to influence public perception and, in some circumstances, public behaviour.
The SSG 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,” he said, urging journalists and other stakeholders to contribute to an atmosphere of peace, harmony and mutual respect regardless of political differences.»
Also speaking at the retreat, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Ahmad Maiyaki, underscored the strategic importance of Kano to the political direction of Northern Nigeria and the country 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 supporting 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.
Other personalities in attendance included 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; a representative of the Department of State Services (DSS); a 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; Kano-based public analyst and commentator Bash n Bash; as well as 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.
Musa Tanko Muhammad
Press Secretary,
Office of the SSG, Kano
September 13, 2026
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