Dr. Kana assumes office as Defence ministry’s Perm Sec, cautions staff against bickering, unethical practices
Mohammed Kaka Misau
Following assumption of office as Permanent Secretary in the Nigerian Defence ministry, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana has cautioned staff against indulging in any form of needles bickering, unethical practice and other anomalies capable of undermining the objectives of the ministry.
The Permanent Secretary had while speaking upon assumption of office, promised to ensure smooth relationship between the ministry and the Defence Headquarters.
He stated that all support must be extended to the defense headquarters in prosecuting the war against insurgency and terrorism in the country.
Dr. Kana who noted that the welfare of officers and men of the Armed Forces would be his priority, urged the labour union of the ministry to join in the drive towards achieving government’s mandate, saying only collective effort can foster government-union relationship.
The Permanent Secretary assured of his total commitment to the mandate of the ministry and vowed to submit himself in loyalty and dedication to the Minister whom he described as an elder statesman with sincere commitment to the Nigerian project.
‘I shall submit myself to the Honourable Minister under who, lies all the powers in this ministry”, he pledged.
Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana further promised to ensure that discipline reigns supreme in the ministry by also ensuring that all the staff of the ministry wakes up to their responsibilities of delivering government’s policies.
According to him, huge investment of government to the ministry must reflect in improved security situation in the country.
The permanent secretary charged staff of the ministry to shun acts capable of derailing goverment’s policies and objectives, asking them to give their best for the betterment of the country.
The minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi retired had while receiving the Perm Secretary, described Dr Kana as an aptly qualified technocrat with the bubbling energy and intelligence to deliver on the mandate given to him.
He stressed that the synergy between the office of the minister and the permanent secretary would be results oriented.
Our Corresspondent gathered that Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana began his educational career in Ahmadu Maikwato Primary School, Keffi before gaining admission to Federal Government College, Odogbolu, Ogun State.
He completed his secondary education at Government College, Keffi, after which he obtained the Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) degree from the University of Jos, Plateau State.
He embarked on the mandatory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) at the Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Kaduna. He obtained Fellowship in Ophthalmology after completing the Residency Training of the National Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria. He further obtained Certificate in Community Ophthalmology from Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology – Arusha, Tanzania. He also had his Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Administration (PGDPA) from the Department of Political Science, Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto.
He attended the World Bank Institute – Budapest, Hungary; Islamic Development Bank funded training on Leadership/Innovation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and later obtained a certificate in KAIZEN from the Malaysia Institute of Technology (MIT) – Kuala Lumpur as well as certificate in Leadership from the John Hopkins University, Maryland, USA. He is a proud Alumnus of the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.
In year 2000, the Permanent Secretary worked in the Department of Ophthalmology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He also held several other National positions in the Federal Civil Service including Head of the Federal Government Staff Eye Clinic, Abuja, Technical Adviser to the Minister of State for Health, Head of Health Desk, Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs under the leadership of Amina Muhammed, the current Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations.
Dr. Kana also served under four different Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Ministry of Health as Senior Special Assistant. During Kana’s tenure in the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) where he represented the Ministry as Commissioner in Charge of Health, he initiated major reform programmes which led to the complete turnaround of healthcare provision for Nigerian Pilgrims from 2011-2019.
He was the National Program Manager, Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results- a 500 Million USD World Bank supported programme, a task he successfully discharged.
Dr. Kana is a recipient of several National and International Awards and has served on many Presidential and Ministerial Committees.
Many believed that as Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kana will deepen and bring to bear sparkling brilliance and excellence that he has expended since joining the Civil Service.