By Our Correspondent
Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Information Chapel, alongside directors and staff of the Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, have honoured the retiring Acting Permanent Secretary, Malam Usman Bello, as he clocked 60 years and exited the civil service after more than three decades of service.
The send-forth ceremony, held Thursday at the ministry’s conference hall within the Audu Bako Secretariat in Kano, attracted colleagues, associates and well-wishers who paid glowing tributes to the retiring administrator’s legacy.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the NUJ Information Chapel, Comrade Musbahu Aminu Yakasai, described Bello as an exemplary civil servant whose leadership was marked by humility, courage and dedication. He noted that the retiree made significant contributions to the ministry and the NUJ, particularly in mentoring younger officers and promoting professionalism.
Yakasai, who previously served as a Deputy Director under Bello, said the celebrant was a fair and compassionate leader who guided subordinates with integrity and a strong sense of responsibility. He also prayed for Allah’s continued blessings and rewards for Bello’s years of service.
Representing the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, congratulated Bello on attaining the age of 60 and completing 33 years in service, describing the milestone as a reflection of wisdom, resilience and divine favour.
Waiya said staff training and capacity building remained a priority of the ministry, adding that many of the initiatives were driven by Bello during his tenure as Acting Permanent Secretary. He disclosed that the ministry planned to continue drawing from Bello’s wealth of experience by involving him in a proposed training committee for information managers.
He added that Bello’s contributions to the growth of the information sector and the development of Kano State would remain part of the ministry’s history.
In his remarks, Malam Usman Bello expressed appreciation for the honour, stating that serving for over 33 years and attaining the age of 60 brought him pride and fulfilment. He thanked the NUJ Information Chapel, the ministry’s leadership and staff for organising the event.
Bello also commended the Commissioner, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, describing him as a progressive leader working to revitalise the Ministry of Internal Affairs and restore its core mandates.
Goodwill messages were delivered by colleagues and associates, including Sunusi Abdullahi Kofar Naisa, Maikudi Muhammad Marafa and Bahijjah Kabara, who all acknowledged Bello’s professionalism and impact.
The event featured the presentation of an award of honour to Malam Usman Bello by the NUJ Information Chapel in recognition of his outstanding service.
