Sani Dutsinma
Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing equal educational opportunities for children from poor and less-privileged backgrounds, stressing that no child should be treated as a second-class citizen in the state.
The governor gave the assurance during a farewell ceremony for 35 Kebbi State students awarded full scholarships to study Medicine and Pharmacy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event took place at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi.
Governor Idris described his administration as people-oriented and committed to delivering quality education, noting that previous scholarship programmes were often dominated by children from wealthy families. He said his government has deliberately shifted focus to brilliant students from humble backgrounds.
According to him, the decision to sponsor only the most deserving and committed students is aimed at promoting fairness and ensuring that talented children, regardless of their socio-economic background, have access to quality education.
The governor advised the students to remain focused, disciplined, and united throughout their studies, urging them to avoid negative influences and seek guidance whenever they face challenges. He assured them of the state government’s continued support and disclosed plans to visit them during one of his routine stopovers in Addis Ababa.
Governor Idris also revealed plans by his administration to sponsor children from less-privileged families to study aircraft piloting and aircraft engineering abroad.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Isah Abubakar Tunga, said the 35 students were fully screened and selected to study MBBS and Pharmacy at a reputable medical college in Addis Ababa. He explained that three of the beneficiaries will study Pharmacy, while the remaining students will pursue Medicine, adding that all tuition and related expenses have been fully settled.
Speaking on behalf of the parents, Dr. Rufai Ahmad expressed appreciation to Governor Nasir Idris for providing children of ordinary citizens with the opportunity to study abroad, describing the gesture as rare and commendable.