Nutrition Society Honours Katsina Monarch for Promoting Nutrition Programmes

Nutrition Society Honours Katsina Monarch for Promoting Nutrition Programmes
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Nutrition Society Honours Katsina Monarch for Promoting Nutrition Programmes

The Kanwan Katsina and District Head of Ketare, Alhaji Usman Bello Kankara, mni, has been honoured by the Nutritional Society of Nigeria (NSN), Katsina State Chapter for his outstanding contributions to nutrition programmes in the state.

The award was presented by the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, PhD, CON, during the opening ceremony of the Society’s two-day annual workshop in Katsina.

According to a statement by the Kanwan Katsina’s Media Aide, Jamilu Hashimu Gora, the traditional ruler was recognised for his unwavering support of nutrition-related activities in Ketare District and across Katsina State.

Governor Radda, in his remarks, highlighted his administration’s investments in the health sector, including the renovation and upgrading of hospitals and primary healthcare centres, recruitment of qualified personnel, and provision of modern medical equipment. He also disclosed the establishment of a committee to oversee the Nutrition Centre at Kofar Sauri, aimed at tackling child malnutrition in the state.

In his response, the Kanwan Katsina commended the Nutritional Society of Nigeria for its efforts in promoting good nutrition. He urged the body to intensify public enlightenment campaigns on healthy dietary practices, stressing the importance of using radio, television streaming, flyers, and banners to educate the public on the role of nutrition in disease prevention and improved healthcare outcomes.

Earlier, renowned nutrition expert Professor Matazu, mni, delivered a paper on the importance of nutrition in healthcare delivery.

The workshop was attended by key stakeholders, including the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Malam Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir, the Commissioner for Health, Musa Adamu Funtua, the General Manager of the Hospitals Services Management Board, Dr Nazir Kurfi, and the Vice-Chairman of the Northern States Chapter of the NSN, alongside other health and nutrition professionals.

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Customs Unveils 3,852 Successful Recruits, Adopts Annual Employment Exercise The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the release of the final list of 3,852 successful candidates for its 2024/2025 recruitment exercise and unveiled plans to institutionalise annual recruitment to ensure continuous manpower renewal. Speaking at a press briefing, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the successful applicants were selected across three entry cadres, with 1,275 recruited into the Superintendent Cadre, 367 into the Inspectorate Cadre, and 2,210 into the Customs Assistant Cadre. Adeniyi said the publication of the final list marks the successful conclusion of the recruitment exercise, which commenced in December 2024. He apologised for the delay in completing the exercise, attributing it to the unprecedented number of applications received and the Service’s determination to conduct a transparent, credible and merit-driven recruitment process. According to the Customs boss, the Service received 573,680 applications for just 3,852 available positions, making the exercise one of the most competitive in the agency’s history. He explained that all applications underwent rigorous screening procedures, including computer-based examinations, verification of credentials against the National Identity database, and additional checks where inconsistencies were detected. He noted that candidates who made the final list would still undergo physical and medical examinations before receiving final approval from the Nigeria Customs Service Board. Adeniyi disclosed that the overall success rate was 0.67 per cent, meaning only one out of every 148 applicants secured a place in the exercise. Breaking down the figures, he said the Superintendent Cadre attracted 276,995 applications for 1,275 vacancies, representing one successful applicant out of every 217 candidates. The Inspectorate Cadre recorded 128,604 applications for 367 positions, making it the most competitive category with one successful candidate for every 350 applicants, while the Customs Assistant Cadre received 168,081 applications for 2,210 vacancies, translating to one successful applicant for every 76 candidates. He encouraged unsuccessful applicants not to be discouraged, stressing that many met the required qualifications but could not be accommodated because of the limited vacancies and intense competition. The Comptroller-General said the recruitment reflected the Federal Character principle, with all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory represented. Each state was allocated 105 slots, comprising 35 positions in the Superintendent Cadre, 10 in the Inspectorate Cadre and 60 in the Customs Assistant Cadre, while the FCT received 72 slots under the approved allocation formula. 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Adeniyi further announced that the Nigeria Customs Service would now conduct recruitment exercises annually instead of waiting several years between recruitment cycles. He disclosed that the 2026 recruitment exercise would commence later this year, expressing confidence that future recruitment would be completed within a single calendar year, from advertisement to the publication of the final list. According to him, the digital systems, screening architecture and verification processes developed during the current exercise would significantly shorten future recruitment timelines. He explained that the annual recruitment policy would enable the Service to plan its workforce more effectively, promptly replace retiring personnel and provide qualified Nigerians with predictable employment opportunities. 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