The deputy governorship candidate of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in Kano State, Ambassador Hajiya Sameera Bala Usman, has pledged to champion education reform, youth development, women’s empowerment and grassroots security if the party wins the 2027 governorship election.
Speaking to journalists, Sameera identified reform of the Almajiri system and measures to tackle drug abuse among young people as priorities, alongside skills acquisition programmes for women and widows.
She said her decision to join the NDP was influenced by its manifesto and what she described as its commitment to policies that address residents’ needs.
“We saw the NDP’s manifesto as credible, and we hope it will bring the development we desire,” she said.
Education and youth opportunities
Sameera said improving access to education and creating opportunities for children and young people would be central to the development agenda she would advocate in office.
She called for greater attention to the Almajiri system, arguing that education remained essential to improving children’s prospects and supporting Kano’s development.
On drug abuse, she said young people needed opportunities to acquire skills and engage in productive activities that could improve their livelihoods.
She also pledged to support programmes that would equip married women and widows with practical skills, enabling them to earn an income, support their families and provide for their children.
Why she chose NDP
Explaining her political journey, Sameera said she had previously contested for the Kano Central senatorial seat under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
She attributed her subsequent move to divisions within the party and the departure of some members for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
“There was a division, and some people left ADC for NDC. That is why I moved to NDP because of its sound policies, and my capacity was recognised and I was picked as the Deputy Governorship Candidate for Kano,” she said.
Sameera also criticised what she described as insufficient recognition of women within established political parties, calling for greater inclusion in decision-making.
“The existing parties that form government do not give women the attention they deserve. Each of them has challenges of disunity and lack of focus on policies that will bring development to the people,” she said.
She described women as central to family and community development, saying their contributions should be reflected in government policies and political representation.
Community security and household welfare
Sameera said infrastructure investment should be accompanied by programmes that address household hardship and security concerns within communities.
“If the NDP forms a government, we will not just stop at building bridges and roads to beautify streets like some governments do. We will execute projects that will improve the lives of the people, and we will tackle security challenges from the grassroots,” she said.
She urged Kano residents, particularly women and young people, to support the NDP ahead of the 2027 election, saying her ambition was to contribute to development through policies focused on education, economic opportunities and public welfare.
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