Tag: Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

Sir: This is to bring the attention of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the need to refocus the method of scholarship distribution in Kano State. It is concerning that the Kano State government, under the Yusuf administration, has not provided local scholarships for students under the Kano State Scholarship Board. The current focus on supporting students who have already obtained their first degree, while neglecting those struggling to achieve their first degree, is unhelpful particularly as some students have had to drop out of university due to financial difficulties and constraints.

One is not against the policy of sending students abroad for their second degrees. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that students from Kano State studying within Nigerian campuses are also facing financial difficulties due to the economic situation. It has become necessary for the governor to direct the Kano State Scholarship Board to open its portal for students to benefit from the state government’s scholarship program, just like their counterparts from other states are benefiting.

Since the governor assumed in to office as governor, no scholarships have been given to students studying at various institutions across the country. Though, the state government paid the school fees of students who were unable to pay their tuition fees due to the increments in school fees at federal universities like Bayero University Kano, Federal University Dutse, Federal University Dutsenma, University of Maiduguri, my questions is, what about those studying at state universities, polytechnic and other colleges of education in the country? Do we know the kind of situations they’re going through? What efforts has the government put in to support them? Why is it that the state government is giving attention to only those who have first class degrees?

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I recently came across a publication calling on Kano State indigenes with first-class degrees to apply for postgraduate scholarships within Nigeria. Additionally, the governor visited students studying in India. These are commendable efforts but it’s unfortunate that no mention was made of scholarships for undergraduate students at local levels.

While it is essential to support brilliant students who secured first-class degrees in their undergraduate studies to further their education, it is equally imperative and important that the state government considers supporting those pursuing diplomas, NCEs, and first degrees in public institutions.

Everyone recognises the efforts of the Kano State government in providing quality education to citizens. However, it is concerning that students pursuing their first degree at universities across the country seem to be neglected. This oversight poses a significant threat to the education sector in Kano State. If the government neglects the welfare of students pursuing their first degree at public universities in the country, undoubtedly the government may wake up tomorrow and find no first-class students to sponsor for second-degree studies abroad.

Similarly, states like Jigawa, Borno, and Kaduna also offer special scholarships to brilliant students who graduated with first-class degrees from Nigerian universities. Yet, they continue to support students currently studying at various institutions in the country with local scholarship every year. This local scholarships provided by the respective state governments help eliminate and reduce some of the challenges students face within campuses.

I therefore appeal to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to follow the footsteps of his counterparts in states like Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa, that support and sponsor first-class students to study abroad for postgraduate degrees, while still providing scholarships every year to students who are pursuing their first degrees in the country.

•Sale Rusulana Yanguruza,Borno State University, Maiduguri.