The Government of Kebbi State has sponsored 32 students to study Medical related studies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while three will study Pharmacy.
The students, comprising 25 males and 10 females were screened and selected from across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
Speaking at a formal send-off ceremony held in honor of the students at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris assured that the programme had come to stay.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance, stressing that children from the less privileged backgrounds would no longer be treated as second class citizens.
The governor lamented that some parents, especially the rich, often connive with their children (students) to change their original course from medicine to management or art related courses, insisting that such courses, were readily available in Nigerian universities and colleges.
While urging the students to remain focused on their studies in order to achieve excellent results, Governor Idris also announced plans by to sponsor children from poor backgrounds to study piloting and aircraft engineering abroad.
“Take yourselves as one big family, concentrate on your studies, ask questions where you do not understand and ensure that you graduate with good grades.
“To offer foreign scholarship is not an easy task, we know how many millions we spent to give you this opportunity,” he said.
The governor expressed appreciation to the parents for trusting the state government and allowing their children to participate in the overseas programme.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Abubakar Isah-Tunga said: “Your Excellency, I am pleased to present to you 35 students who were screened and found worthy for admission into pioneer Medical College in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“To the glory of Almighty God out of these 35 students 10 are Hafiz, meaning they have memorised the entire holy Qur’an.”
According to him, the state government has already paid the students’ tuition fees and all other associated expenses.
The commissioner noted that the occasion further demonstrated that the Kebbi Governor “is a professional teacher.”
Speaking on behalf of the parents, Dr Ahmad Umar-Rufa’i described the gesture as dream- like, nothing that it was rare for poor, less- privileged and vulnerable families to access such opportunities in the past.
“From what we have seen today, none of the beneficiaries is a child of a Senator, Minister, Commissioner or any other bigwig. Therefore, we are deeply grateful,” he said.
