By Our Reporter
Usman Bello Kankara, a retired Customs Comptroller and now Kawa Katsina, and the district Head of Ketare, was among the prominent indigenes of Katsina state who were honoured by the state branch of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, during its press week and award night.
The award night which was held at the Bouquet Hall, Old Government House Katsina, was said to have attracted people from all walks of life, both within and outside the state. Also honoured along with the Monarch was Aminu Bello Masari, the state governor, who was described as a strong pillar of the Union in the state.
When the organisers of the NUJ Award night in the state read out the profile of Bello and his various achievements and contributions to Katsina state as the district Head of Ketare which was very intimating, there was a thunderous shout of UK. Which rented the air.
Giving a brief profile of him, the NUJ , in the state that the Kawa of Katsina was a good ambassador of Katsina state during his thirty five years with the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, where he rose to become a Comptroller. Note that in 2000, he was given a letter of commendation from the Katsina state government 2000 by late President Umaru Yar’adua, who was then the governor for making the state proud in the Service.
As a Customs Comptroller, his call of duties had taken him Kano and Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara Commands and Federal capital Territory, FCT, Abuja and Eastern Marine Commands where he raised revenue generations of the various Commands to the admiration of Abdullahi Dikko, the then Comptroller General of Customs.
He retired at Eastern Marine Command, Rivers state, one of the Amphibious Commands of the Service, which had been split into two, Eastern and North Eastern Marine Commands , in the ongoing reform and restricting of the service, by Hameed Ali, a retired Army Colonel and current Comptroller General of the NCS, at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari.
An alumnus of the prestigious Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near Jos, Plateau state, where he earned the mini award. Recall that in his first ten years in the service, UK, as he was fondly called by his Colleagues, served as Public Relation Officer at Tin-can island and Apapa Commands. He was awarded the best PRO of customs during his time by the Management.
He retired from Customs to waiting arms of his people to become the District
Head, of Ketare and has contributed immensely to the socio-economic activities
of the people of his domain in the areas of health, education and agriculture.
He was among the front runners in the peace initiative of the Katsina state
government led by Masari, between Fulani herdsmen and farmers, which was said
to have qualified the recipients of the NUJ ward in the state.
The Monarch was said to dedicated the Award to the people of the district, promising to do more in the provision of their health and educational needs. He was said to have a given his words to continue to support the Union in very of their activities in the state.
