Open Letter to Comrade Kabir Dakata on His Appointment as Director General, Kano State Advert & Signage Agency .
By Musa Abdullahi Sufi, Kano, Nigeria
Dear Comrade Kabir Said Dakata,
I write to publicly extend my heartfelt congratulations on your recent appointment by His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, as the Director General of the newly established Kano State Advert & Signage Agency . Your emergence into this crucial role is not only a personal milestone but also a strategic step for Kano State’s urban development.
Your proven commitment to good governance, civic engagement, and social accountability makes you a fitting choice to lead this agency at such a critical time. As you embark on this important journey, I offer a few strategic recommendations grounded in international best practices and adapted to the realities of our beloved state.
Kano State Advert & Signage Agency under your leadership, holds immense potential to redefine how outdoor advertising, signage, and branding are managed in Kano State.
This is not just about aesthetics; it is about revenue generation, public order, youth employment, safety, and sustainable development. It is about rebranding Kano with dignity and discipline.
Here are some recommendations for you as follows:
1. Create a Strategic Framework: Develop a vision-driven roadmap (2025–2030) for Kano State Advert & Signage Agency aligned with State’s urban renewal agenda. Focus on sustainability, digital transformation, and regulatory excellence as foundational pillars.
2. Adopt Global Best Practices in Signage Regulation: Study successful models such as LASAA (Lagos), Nairobi City County, Johannesburg, and Dubai’s signage systems. Promote smart, digital, eco-friendly, and culturally sensitive signage that complements Kano’s identity.
3. Strengthen Public Engagement and Education: Launch multilingual public awareness campaigns on signage laws and responsible advertising. Engage communities through town hall dialogues and interactive forums in each local government area.
4. Ensure Transparency and Revenue Optimization: Introduce a centralized digital portal for licensing, payments, renewals, and compliance monitoring. Collaborate with Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) to strengthen internally generated revenue (IGR) through transparent billing systems.
5. Foster Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with private sector players, universities, research centers, civil society organizations, and religious and traditional leaders to promote innovation, accountability, and value-based compliance.
6. Empower Youth and Create Jobs: Set up an agency Creative Hub for training youth in graphic design, billboard production, and digital signage technology. Employ young people as Signage Marshals for field enforcement, data collection, and environmental monitoring.
7. Integrate Urban Development Goals: Work with agencies like KNUPDA, KASUPDA, and the Ministry of Environment to ensure coordinated and aesthetic urban planning. Launch a “Beautify Kano Through Responsible Advertising” campaign to restore pride in public spaces.
8.Institutionalize Accountability and Impact Measurement: Publish quarterly performance scorecards and impact reports. Open a public complaint and compliance desk for citizens to report violations. Conduct regular audits and stakeholder feedback sessions to ensure the agency remains a people-oriented institution.
In conclusion,Comrade Kabir, this is a rare opportunity to build a new institution from the ground up. Your legacy can be that of transforming a regulatory agency into a beacon of professionalism, innovation, and service to the people of Kano State. May your tenure bring visible order to our signage landscape, economic empowerment to our youth, and renewed dignity to our public environment.
I and many others look forward to seeing your leadership steer Kano State Advert & Signage Agency into a model agency for Nigeria and the continent. Congratulations once again, brother.