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By Yusuf A Yusuf Damaturu The Spotlight for Transparency and Accountability has officially launched "Bayani AI," an artificial intelligence platform designed to demystify government finances and empower citizens at the grassroots level. Spotlight Executive Director, Mu'azu Alhaji Modu, announced the launch during the weekend in Damaturu, explaining that "Bayani," a Hausa word meaning "information," is an AI solution focused squarely on Nigeria's 774 local governments. According to him, this initiative comes in the wake of the Supreme Court's July 2024 ruling granting full financial autonomy to local governments—a decision hampered by what Modu described as a systemic lack of capacity to manage these new resources. He outlined the platform's mission; "We came up with an AI system that supports citizen journalists and reformers by giving them access to real-time information on budget allocations, projects, and the earnings of...

By Yusuf A Yusuf, Damaturu  In a landmark initiative to harness local talent for civic good, the Spotlight for Transparency and Accountability Initiative, in collaboration with the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has concluded the first-ever Civic Innovation Hackathon for Northeast Nigeria. The event which took place in Damaturu, powered by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund with support from the MacArthur Foundation,Ford Foundation, and Luminate, showcased young tech pioneers developing solutions to strengthen democracy and governance in the region. Spotlight’s Executive Director, Mu’azu Alhaji Modu explained the hackathon served as the climax of Dr. Kole Shettima’s Innovation and Democracy Challenge. He detailed the rigorous journey from an initial pool of 1,200 applicants down to 12 finalists, who underwent a 12-week acceleration program."These young people have amazing ideas to strengthen democracy but lacked the platform and resources to sca...

By Yusuf A Yusuf,Damaturu The Yobe State Government has commenced the disbursement of domestic scholarships and bursaries for the 2025/2026 academic session, featuring a landmark 100% increase in financial aid for all beneficiaries. Approved by Governor Mai Mala Buni, the initiative will directly benefit 28,346 indigenes studying in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Scholarship Board (YSSB), Dr. Kagu Abubakar, officially flagged off the exercise in Damaturu on behalf of the state government. Dr. Kagu announced that Governor Buni has authorized a full doubling of all previous scholarship rates.Under the new structure, Postgraduate (PGDE, Masters, PhD) students will receive ₦110,000 (up from ₦55,000). "Undergraduate students will receive ₦46,000 (up from ₦23,000), and HND, NCE & National Diploma students will receive ₦34,000 (up from ₦17,000). "Students in other Diploma and Certificate programmes will rec...

By Alhaji Yusuf, Damaturu The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has issued a stark warning to the new Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, stating he must achieve "six years' worth of progress in less than one year" to meet national expectations and secure the administration's political future. In a press statement by the KACRAN National President,Hon.Khalil Mohammed Bello,framed General Musa's appointment as a race against time, linking his performance directly to the electoral prospects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and many governors in the 2027 elections. "The Minister faces a unique challenge never before seen: a critically short timeline," the statement read, noting that with election campaigns effectively starting in 2026, he has a narrow window to demonstrate results. KACRAN warned that failure to drastically reduce insecurity could lead to electoral difficulties similar to those of the past. To suc...

We wish to inform the general public and all stakeholders that the official launch of S-MAHII Application and S-MAHII Token Wallet, which is initially scheduled for the end of this year, has been postponed to early next year. This is due to a special request from high-level foreign guests and representatives of the United Nations, who requested additional time to finalize collaborative arrangements with us and to ensure their full participation. Similarly, some embassies and security agencies we are partnering with are currently in the final stages of review and approval of our system.  In view of the above, we find it necessary to delay the event to ensure a successful, well-organized, and historic launch. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appeals for the understanding of the public, also our partners, and those interested in this event.  Once all consultations with the relevant authorities are concluded a new date and details of the ...

By Yusuf A Yusuf, Damaturu  The Yobe State Government has pledged to allocate permanent business sites for the Potiskum Grocery Sellers Association and the Potiskum Rice Millers Association, a move expected to boost commerce, create jobs, and improve urban planning. The announcement was made during a meeting at the Damaturu Government House, where a delegation from the associations was received by Deputy Governor Alhaji Idi Barde Gubana, representing Governor Mai Mala Buni. Governor Buni, through his deputy, commended the groups for their critical role in human capital development and job creation across the state.  He reiterated the administration’s policy of treating business associations as essential partners in driving Yobe’s economic growth. The delegation, led by Alhaji Umaru Aljan, Chairman of the Hausa-Fulani Association in Potiskum, expressed deep appreciation for the government’s inclusive leadership and sustained dialogue with key economic se...