The previous administration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje dedicated more than N20 billion to assist 111,687 financially disadvantaged students in pursuing postgraduate foreign scholarships across 14 countries, according to a former cabinet member.
The Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs under Ganduje, Muhammad Garba, in a statement on Monday, revealed that the financial support was distributed from June 2015 to March 2023.
According to Garba, the expenses covered various aspects such as tuition fees, accommodation, airfare, and upkeep for students pursuing postgraduate studies in foreign countries, including India, Malaysia, Egypt, Cyprus, China, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, Togo, Ireland, Gambia, and Ukraine.
The former administration also sponsored postgraduate students in five private universities, the Nigerian Law School, and other domestic universities, the ex-commissioner said.
Garba noted that the records indicated the former administration had also supported 50 lecturers from Kano’s universities and tertiary institutions to pursue their doctorate degrees in prestigious French universities.
The initiative is said to have been carried out under a joint programme between the French and Kano State governments. Additionally, the state government collaborated with the French Embassy in Nigeria, investing over N600 million in a joint tuition-free postgraduate scholarship.
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Responding to claims by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) that the foreign scholarship fees were unpaid, the former commissioner stated, “It was unfortunate that the present administration in the state was laying claims to the success of the foreign and local scholarship.”
He further explained that the current administration inherited financial burdens of approximately $28 million and over N6 billion, respectively, of which the Ganduje administration had managed to settle more than 80 percent.
The former commissioner highlighted that the Ganduje administration had reintroduced the payment of scholarship allowances to indigenous students attending Nigerian universities and tertiary institutions.
This initiative, which had been abandoned by the previous Rabiu Kwankwaso administration between 2011 and 2015, aimed to provide support to students across the state.
Under this scheme, N865.4 million was disbursed as scholarship allowances, covering logistics for payment exercises to indigenous students in the five emirates across all 44 local government areas (LGAs) of Kano State.
Furthermore, Garba noted that the Ganduje administration had increased scholarship allowances to students by 50 percent.
The former commissioner emphasized that the administration’s commitment to investing in education and scholarship opportunities had a significant impact on the development of human capital in Kano State.
The financial support provided to both local and international students aimed to enhance educational outcomes and contribute to the state’s progress.
The former administration’s substantial investment in foreign and local scholarships has been acknowledged, with records indicating significant financial contributions towards the education of indigent students and the professional development of lecturers in prestigious universities abroad.
