The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Ibrahim Al’amin Little, has unveiled Abdulkadir Shehu Bari as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.
Al’amin announced Bari’s selection on Sunday while addressing journalists in Kano, where he also outlined key areas his administration would prioritise if elected.
Bari, 36, is from Rogo Local Government Area of the state and is an ICT professional, academic, administrator, educationist and community development advocate.
He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Bayero University, Kano, and a master’s degree in Information Technology from the National Open University of Nigeria.
Bari has held several academic and administrative positions at an agricultural college in Kano, including Head of the Computer Science Department, Head of Artificial Intelligence, Director of ICT, Director of Linkages and Affiliations and Coordinator of the institution’s outreach centre.
As Head of the Computer Science Department, he was credited with supporting the introduction of four Higher National Diploma programmes in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Data Protection, Networking and Cloud Computing, and Software and Web Development.
He also initiated a proposal for the establishment of a School of Computing at the institution, which was subsequently approved and implemented.
His professional interests include artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer science, ICT, digital transformation, programming and emerging technologies.
Bari has also participated in curriculum development and review in computer science and artificial intelligence, including engagements with the National Board for Technical Education.
He previously served as Secretary-General of the Nigerian Computer Society, Kano State Chapter.
Speaking on his choice of running mate, Al’amin said the ADC ticket was designed to provide Kano residents with what he described as a new direction in governance.
He said his administration would implement a comprehensive blueprint aimed at “resetting” the state, with emphasis on education, healthcare, youth development, infrastructure, business development and social welfare.
“We are just on the verge of putting finishing touches to our blueprint that will reset Kano and take it to greater heights,” he said.
The candidate identified drug abuse among young people as one of the issues his administration would tackle, promising rehabilitation, education and skills acquisition programmes for affected youths.
He also criticised the condition of public schools, saying inadequate infrastructure and poor service delivery had eroded parents’ confidence in government-owned institutions.
Al’amin pledged to improve infrastructure and service delivery across basic, secondary and tertiary education while making government schools more attractive to parents.
On healthcare, he promised to strengthen public hospitals through improved infrastructure, availability of medicines and adequate staffing.
He said the ADC was developing a roadmap that would assess the state’s current situation across various sectors and establish measurable targets for development.
The candidate also promised social welfare programmes for vulnerable residents, including widows with dependants, elderly people without support and other indigent citizens.
He said the administration would work to return out-of-school children to classrooms while providing vocational training and employment opportunities for young people.
“We are going to concentrate on the youth, take them off the streets, teach them vocational skills, educate them and give them opportunities to serve in all categories of government,” he said.
Al’amin further pledged to promote local production through cottage industries and the revival of existing industries.
He said Kano’s dependence on goods produced outside the state, particularly those brought from Lagos and other parts of southern Nigeria, would be reduced by encouraging local manufacturing.
He also identified animal husbandry, poultry and fisheries as areas where specialised production clusters could be developed.
On technology and innovation, the ADC candidate promised to identify and support young people with talents in science and technology.
He also pledged to promote greater youth participation in politics by creating opportunities for qualified young people to seek elective and party positions based on competence rather than family connections.
Al’amin said the ADC would mentor young people and prepare them to take up leadership responsibilities in the state.
(The Whistler)
