In a move to promote responsible religious sermons and address blasphemous content, the Kano State Government has announced the enactment of a new law to regulate religious preaching.
The decision was made during a recent Kano State Executive Council meeting, held at the Government House.
The state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs Muhammad Garba spoke to reporters and highlighted the key aspects of the law.
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He stated, “The law would harmonize the mode of preaching through sermons that included open preaching in open places, hate speech or defamation of character through radio, television, newspaper or any other conventional platform and the social media, attack on the leadership of the opposite sect, and incitement of followers.”
To effectively monitor and regulate religious sermons, the council has also approved the establishment of a strong Council of Ulama through an enabling law from the state House of Assembly.
This council will have the responsibility of supervising and regulating all religious sermons in the state.
Malam Garba emphasized the importance of this initiative, saying, “We believe that the establishment of this council will help ensure that religious sermons are conducted responsibly, promote harmony, and prevent the spread of hate speech or blasphemous content.”
In addition to the law on religious preaching, the council ratified the executive approval for the release of funds dedicated to improving health services in the state.
A sum of naira equivalent to $100,000 was allocated as a counterpart fund for the implementation of the World Bank Supported Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transform Services (IMPACT) Project.
The project aims to address poor health indices in the state through high-impact interventions, focusing on Immunization Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH).
It is expected to revamp essential primary healthcare services and serve as a foundation for implementing the minimum service package.
Furthermore, the council approved the establishment of a management board for the recently upgraded and equipped Muhammadu Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital (MAWTH).
This development will facilitate the commencement of postgraduate (Residency) training in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radiology, and Internal Medicine, thus enhancing the availability of critical healthcare professionals in the state.
Garba expressed optimism about the future of the hospital, stating, “The establishment of the board will provide the hospital with a standard management structure, enabling it to compete with any teaching hospital in the country.”
In a separate decision, the council also approved the establishment of a private University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Bichi town, Bichi local government. A piece of land has been allocated for the institution at Kofar Wambai in Bichi town.
Additionally, the Kano State Executive Council has allocated N1,403,936,600.00 billion for the sponsorship of 60,871 qualified indigent secondary school students for examinations such as NECO, NABTEB, NBAIS, and SSCE.
The sponsored students include those who obtained six credits and above, including English and Mathematics, in regular secondary schools in the qualifying examination, as well as students from Senior Islamic and Tahfeez Secondary Schools.
The Kano State Government’s proactive measures in regulating religious sermons and investing in healthcare and education demonstrate its commitment to fostering social harmony, improving healthcare services, and providing educational opportunities for its citizens.
