Education
Barau Offers Scholarships To Additional 870 Students In Kano
Olasunmibo Aboluwade, Abuja
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, on Tuesday, commenced the second phase of his scholarship programme with 870 students of the Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano (YUMSUK).
The students, who were selected from Kano North Senatorial District, where the lawmaker represents, were given N20,000 each.
This is contained in a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, made available to journalists in Abuja.
The Deputy President of the Senate, who represented the him at the occasion, Professor Muhammad Ibn Abdullahi, said the scheme was conceived by Senator Barau to support students from his constituency.
He said the scholarship scheme started in August with 628 students of the Bayero University Kano (BUK).
According to him, the scheme would be extended to all students from Kano North Senatorial District in all tertiary institutions in the country.
He said, “Each of the students will receive N20,000 courtesy of Senator Barau and every student from Kano North who is studying in Nigeria will benefit from this scheme.
“We started in August with the students of BUK and today we are in YUMSUK for the second phase,” he said.
He urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the gesture and study hard for them to excel in their academic pursuits.
One of the beneficiaries, Ummussalam Haruna Yusuf, a level 300 student thanked the Deputy President of the Senate for the gesture.
“The biggest challenge we are facing now is transportation and the food to eat while at school. This gesture from our Senator will assist us in this regard,” She said.
Another student who also benefited from the scholarship, Nafiu Adamu said “At this trying time students are in dire need of this kind gesture.”
“We will pay for transportation, buy food at school and even buy books to support our education.
“This kind of encouragement we are getting from the Senator is motivating. It is one of the reasons why we are studying today.
“He has been doing it for many years. We have appreciated and thank him for this and we wish him the best in his political career,” he said.
. ..Students get scholarship for varsity education
. ..We must return glory of public schools, assist girl-child -Prof. Sulaiman
Olasunmibo Aboluwade, Abuja
It was joy unlimited on Monday for students and teachers of Enitona High School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as they won the 9th edition of the “National Quiz Competition on Legislature and Democracy for Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria.”
The grand finale of the competition, which was held in Abuja, was organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), a body answerable to the National Assembly.
Schools from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) participated in the competition with six schools making it to the grand finale to represent the six geopolitical-structure of the country.
Vetland Senior Grammar School, Ifako Ijaiye, Lagos State, represented the South-West; Bishop Otubelu Juniorate, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, represented the South-East; Enitona High School, Port Harcourt, represented the South-South; School for the Gifted, Gwagwalada, Abuja, represented the North-Central; Jigawa Academy for the Gifted, Bamaina, represented the North-West; while Helena Heritage Academy, Jalingo, Taraba State, represented the North-East.
At the end of the competition, students of Enitona High School, who represented the South-South, scored 70 points to emerge the winner.
They were followed in the second position by students of the School for the Gifted, Gwagwalada, who recorded 65 points.
The third position went to the students of Bishop Otubelu Juniorate, Enugu, who scored 55 points.
The aim of the competition, which is keenly contested annually by participants, according to NILDS, is to provide continued education to students on the history of the legislature, its practices and relevance to democratic governance in Nigeria.
Speaking at the session, NILDS’ Director-General, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, said he was particularly elated over this year’s edition because of the competitive spirit of students drawn from public and private schools, across the states to the zonal and national segments.
He observed that public schools continued to come tops in major knowledge-based competitions in the country despite the neglect and decay they suffered.
Prof Sulaiman stated, “We can see that public schools are still not doing badly.
“Our hope relies on the public schools and we must do everything possible to bring back the lost glory of our public schools.”
He also noted that girls were giving the boys a tough time, as three girls and six boys made it to this year’s grand finale, in addition to the all-girl finalists at the 2023 edition.
“I am impressed. We have 12 students at this finale. Out of the number six are girls. It means that whatever men can do, women can also do it.
“Among the participants, from the North-Central, we had a lady who did very well, and from the South-East, another performed very well.
“That is to say that we should do everything possible to assist our female children”, the DG added.
The participants received various gifts, including laptops, cash and certificates.
For the winning school, the students will each get a scholarship to cover their university education tuition.
President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, sent goodwill messages to encourage the participants and to commend NILDS for its research efforts.
In his words of encouragement, Abbas said, “You are being prepared for the future to play your role in the political and democratic space.
“We are here to ensure that when your time comes, you are ready to take up the mantle of leadership.”
Ends
Festus Akinola, Akure
Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire SAN, the Senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District has commended the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over the appointment of the Osemawe and Paramount Ruler of Ondo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, Jilo III, as the Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED).
Oba Kiladejo’s appointment was conveyed in a letter to him by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Tayo Oluwatuyi, dated November 7, 2024.
Senator Adegbonmire in a congratulatory message said the appointment of the revered monarch, is a giant leap to further guarantee outstanding teaching and learning standards, and make the University of Medical Sciences Ondo, the best of its kind in Nigeria and beyond.
He said, “The appointment is a significant milestone, considering Oba Kiladejo’s impressive background as a medical doctor and his experience as the 44th Osemawe and Paramount Ruler of Ondo Kingdom
“As a medical professional, Oba Kiladejo has a strong educational foundation, having graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) with a degree in Medicine, and later obtaining postgraduate training at Liverpool University.
” His expertise in healthcare is further demonstrated by his various professional affiliations.
“They include the Nigerian Medical Association and the American Association of Family Physicians
Oba Kiladejo’s leadership skills are also noteworthy, having chaired several organizations, including Kiladejo Royal Hospitals and Merit Diagnostics.
“The University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED), will benefit greatly from Oba Kiladejo’s appointment, given his experience in healthcare and education.
“UNIMED is a significant institution in Nigeria, offering various medical programs and research opportunities.
“With Oba Kiladejo at the helm, the university is poised for further growth and development,” the statement read
Olasunmibo Aboluwade, Abuja
The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has asked President Bola Tinubu to give preferential treatment to northern students in higher institutions, in the disbursement of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
The Senators made the appeal through their Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, in a letter dated October 28 and addressed to President Tinubu.
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The northern federal lawmakers in the letter sighted by THISDAY in Abuja on Thursday noted that the national loans scheme was supposed to be evenly distributed to all students across the country but the exigencies in North makes it necessary for students in the North to get special treatment.
Part of the letter read, “On behalf of the Northern Senators, I wish to most respectfully express our profound gratitude to His Excellency President Bole Ahmed Tinubs GCFR, and the eminent Nigerians in the Board and Management of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), ted by Mr Jim Ovia, as Chairman and Mr Akintunde Sewyerr as MD’CEO.
“Our expression of deep appreciation is in view of the enormity of the impact of the Student Loans Scheme, which has been initiated with instant impect across tertiary institutions in Nigerie.
“The students from tertiary institutions in the North have shown belief in and responsiveness to the scheme, and it is heartwarming to find Bayero Universy Kano, University of Maiduguri and Federal University Dutsin-Ma, leading the charts of beneficiaries in the early days of the scheme, with over 16,000 combined number of beneficiaries, amongst other students from numerous other institutions.
“We will not lose sight of the fact that this programme is a national scheme, and therefore should command a semblance of balance and spread across the country’s geo-political zones.
“However. considering the tevel of youth restiveness and violent extremism that has plagued the North for over a decade-and-half, it will not be out of place for the government to deliberately target a geometric enhancement of access to tertiary education mainly for young northerners.
“This scheme bolsters the chances of these young citizens to return to school and achieve gainful employment.
“As a forum of northern legislators, we acknowledge the impact of the historic Act setting up NELFUND and the propensity of the initiative to enable progress, especially in reducing insecurity and improving living standards across our communities.
“Finally, we wish to encourage northern state governments to sustain the active participation of citizens by ensuring active colisboration wih NELFUND in undertaking swareness campaigns across tertiary institutions within their states.”