From Maiharaji Altine, Gusau Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state said his administration has paid the sum of N400 million as students’ scholarship both within and outside the country in the last one month.
The Governor stated this yesterday when he hosted Zamfara State Students under the auspices of the National Union of Zamfara State Students (NUZAMSS) for the Ramadan fast dinner at his residence in Gusau, the state capital.
The Governor explained that over N186m was paid to the Sudan International University for 67 Medical, Nursing and other students studying Health related Courses in Sudan, in addition to the release of over N24m for 23 students of engineering and allied courses at Sharda University, India.
The also revealed that over N56m was paid for students’ fees studying pharmacy and other engineering disciplines at Cyprus International University, with a view to providing Zamfara state indigenes with enough skills to man the state’s health institutions effectively.
He said with the coming of his administration, he ordered the payment of WEAC/ NECO fees debt inherited from the past administration incurred in its 8 years to enable secondary school leavers from the state further their education accordingly.
Similarly, the Governor said over N41m was paid to Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun state, and Al-hikima University, Ilorin as first installment also over debt inherited from the previous administration which had left over 30 Students stranded for many years.
He added that his administration also paid another N19m to 38 Law students of Zamfara State indigenes studying at various Law school campuses nationwide.
“In addition, the sum of N7m was released to the State Scholarship Board for the immediate verification of over 25,000 students studying at various institutions of higher learning across the country who applied online with a view to ascertaining those eligible to receive local bursary payments”.
He called on the Students to remain good Ambassadors of the state wherever they found themselves in the course of their studies.
Governor Matawalle said arrangements have been made by his administration to ensure that students of Zamfara State University Talata-Mafara resumed studies as soon as all necessary security arrangements were put in place within and around the School premises.
He said he has requested for additional special forces from the federal Government who would provide security to all primary, post primary schools and all higher institutions of learning across the state.
The Governor announced the donation of an 18-Seater brand new Bus to the Union, NUZAMSS for the effective conduct of its activities.
Earlier, the National President of NUZAMSS, Comrade Abubakar Hamza Tsafe who spoke on behalf of NANS, NUZAMSS, C-PATRIOTS, SA -BELMAT and the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) respectively commended the Governor for his unflinching support to students in the state.
The NUZAMSS President said no fewer than 28,000 Students of Zamfara state are fully behind the Governor, and assured of their loyalty and support to all Government policies and programmes for the success of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle led Administration.
The event was attended by the former Deputy Governor of the state, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala Muhammed, Secretary to the state Government, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru and Chief of staff Government House, Colonel Bala Mande rtd.
Others were the Commissioner of Special Duties, Alhaji Lawal Abubakar Zanna, Special Adviser on Students Matters, Comrade Lukman B Majidadi, Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Lawal Umar Maradun and Senior Government officials.
