Headline: Kebbi State Leads in Free Education, Governor Idris States
In a remarkable show of support for students and their families, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has announced that his administration is shouldering the full cost of education for students studying both within and outside Nigeria. This unprecedented move, as revealed by the governor, makes Kebbi the first and only state in Nigeria to offer total free education and scholarships.
Idris made this revelation during a courtesy visit by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Matters, Sunday Dare, accompanied by the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Olusola Oladejo. The visitors were in Kebbi to inaugurate the newly elected executives of the Kebbi National Students’ Association.
The governor disclosed that his administration recently paid approximately N2.7 billion to settle tuition fees for its students studying across tertiary institutions, both within and outside Nigeria. He emphasized that Kebbi is the only state offering total free education, relieved the financial burden from parents, many of whom have multiple children in tertiary institutions.
To further support students and enhance learning environments, Governor Idris shared that the feeding money for students in boarding schools across the state had been increased from N150 million to N300 million per month. Additionally, he highlighted the state’s efforts to raise educational standards, including lifting the employment embargo, which has seen about 5,000 qualified teachers employed. His administration has also rehabilitated 2,004 primary and secondary schools and constructed over 340 new ones.
Governor Idris praised President Bola Tinubu for supporting the state’s achievements in road construction, particularly the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, with Kebbi set to benefit from about 280 kilometers of the project. He also commended the president for introducing a students’ loan scheme, a first in Nigeria’s history.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Matters, Sunday Dare, commended the state government for implementing free education and full scholarships for its students. Similarly, the NANS national president applauded Governor Idris for the construction of four mega schools across the four Emirates of Kebbi State.
This initiative by Kebbi State demonstrates a strong commitment to investing in education and supporting families, which can potentially lead to significant improvements in the state’s educational outcomes and future human capital.
