From Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
The 120 students of Zamfara state origin who benefited from Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare scholarship program to study various degree programs at Iheris University Lome in Togo Republic have left the state to that country.
The students who were drawn from the 14 local government areas of the state were transported to Lagos on Sunday by road where they would be airlifted to Lome in Togo.
Addressing the beneficiaries at the command’s guest inn Gusau on Sunday, the coordinator of the program, Ahmed Garba Yandi said the gesture was part of Dauda Lawal Dare’s efforts to assist the less privileged students whose parents could not sponsor their education.
Yandi maintained that, apart from the foreign students, Lawan Dare has also sponsored others to study at various tertiary institutions in the country.
He called on those sent to Togo to be serious in their studies and be good ambassadors of Nigeria during their stay in that country.
“I urge you to be very serious in your studies and try as much as possible to be good ambassadors of Nigeria”.
Yandi maintained that, their scholarship was fully paid, warning them however that, any student who was found to be not serious would be returned to the state in order to avoid wastage.
“We will be checking from time to time to make sure that, you are facing your studies with all seriousness and if we find anyone of you who is not doing well, we will bring him back home”.
Also speaking, an APC stalwart in the state, Malam Mani Bukkuyum said sponsoring 120 students abroad by a single individual was the first of its kind from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
He advised that the students should be closely monitored and ensure that those who could not do well are returned to the country.
In his speech, a former education and information commissioner, Ibrahim Danmalikin Gidan Goga commended lawal Dare for the gesture and called on the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity to become useful members of the society after their graduation.
Danmaliki who is also a Publicity Secretary of former Governor Abdul Aziz Yari faction of the APC challenged those who viewed the sponsorship of the 120 students as politically motivated to come out and do the same.
“,If you think that Dauda Lawal Dare is sending the students to school because of his political ambition, please come out and do the same, instead of teaching the younger ones to become political thugs”.
Danmaliki advised the beneficiaries of the foundation to behave well and concentrate on their studies so as to come out with flying colors.