Kano State governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has spent over N2 billion to off-set the back-log of students’ scholarship inherited from the immediate-past administration of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, The Nation reports.
Speaking to reporters in his office on the issue, the state Commissioner for Information, Mallam Muhammad Garba, said the amount encompasses allowances, upkeep and tuition fees of students of Kano State origin studying both at home and abroad.
Garba said the Ganduje administration discovered discrepancies in the payment process of the scholarship scheme spear-headed by the immediate-past administration,
“As a responsible and responsive government that believes in prudent management of public fund, we are fine-tuning the process. I must also assure you that this government will ensure that our students, who were sent out to study, will not suffer; and they will come back home happy, so that they will also make their immediate families, Kano State and Nigeria happy,” he said.
He added that Ganduje’s administration remains committed to ensuring that Kano indigenes get qualitative education.
“In the scholarship programme, you must believe me that the Ganduje administration has shown more concern than any other administration in the history of Kano.
“Already, payment of outstanding liabilities inherited since 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 academic sessions for students of Kano State indigenes in public universities and tertiary institutions within the country have been approved.
“It is also important to inform you that the total number of these students is 54, 862; and the total amount of money for the payment is N677, 589 million.
“These students are studying in all Nigerian universities. This N677, 589 million has been approved and payment has already commenced,” he said.
Ganduje also said about 100 students are undergoing extensive training on auto-mobile at the prestigious Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) training centre based in Kaduna.
“They are going to graduate at the end of this month, and government will empower them with tools and working capital. This administration has spent about N80 million so far for the one-year training.
“This administration has concluded plans to empower about 5000 youths into marketing Diamond Yellow account in MTN Close User Group. This is in partnership with a company called SSCL/MTN. After the training, MTN would make these 5000 youths agents of the company; MTN would be giving them products monthly between N50, 000 and N100, 000, and whatever they sold, they will have their commission. This is basically going to make them self-reliant.
“The government has also decided to facilitate the formation of the Nigerian Peace Corps. We are projecting to train about 2000 youths to engage in the Peace Corps, hoping that the corps will formally be integrated into the Ministry of Interior because the Bill has passed Second Reading,” he said.
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