THE previous administration of 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 yesterday, 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.a
