The former administration of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the ex-governor of Kano state, has come under scrutiny following claims that it failed to pay for foreign scholarships during his two-term tenure. However, Muhammad Garba, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, has refuted these allegations, stating that over N20 billion was indeed spent on the overseas postgraduate foreign scholarship program.
According to Mr. Garba, a total of 111,687 students from Kano state benefited from the scholarship program, which spanned 14 different countries. The funds were used to cover various expenses, including tuition fees, accommodation, air tickets, and student upkeep. The scholarships were offered to students pursuing postgraduate degrees in countries such as India, Malaysia, Egypt, Cyprus, China, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, Togo, Ireland, Gambia, and Ukraine, as well as in local universities.
In addition to supporting students, the former administration also provided sponsorship for 50 lecturers to pursue their doctorate degrees in prestigious French universities. This program was a collaborative effort between the French government and the state of Kano. Furthermore, the Ganduje administration allocated over N600 million to facilitate a joint tuition-free postgraduate scholarship in partnership with the French Embassy in Nigeria.
Mr. Garba expressed disappointment with the current administration for attempting to appropriate the successes of the foreign and local scholarship programs while disregarding the financial burden left behind by the previous government. The Commissioner revealed that the Ganduje administration had settled more than 80% of the outstanding $28 million and over N6 billion debt incurred from these programs.
Highlighting the efforts made to support education within Nigeria, Mr. Garba noted that the Ganduje administration reintroduced the payment of scholarship allowances to indigent students attending local universities and other tertiary institutions. This initiative aimed to address the neglect of such allowances during the previous Kwankwaso administration between 2011 and 2015. A total sum of N865.4 million was disbursed as scholarship allowances, benefiting students across all five Emirates within the state’s 44 local government areas.
Additionally, Mr. Garba highlighted that the scholarship allowances were increased by 50% under the Ganduje administration, further enhancing the support given to students pursuing higher education.
It is evident that the former Kano state administration, led by Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, invested significantly in the education sector, both nationally and internationally. The allocation of over N20 billion towards foreign postgraduate scholarships and the reintroduction of scholarship allowances for indigenous students reflect the administration’s commitment to improving access to quality education and promoting academic excellence in Kano state.
