December 11, (THEWILL) – No fewer than 100 students from Sokoto are expected to benefit from Senator Ibrahim Lamido (Sokoto East)’s foreign scholarship scheme this year.
Senator Lamido disclosed this in his farewell message to the first batch of 57 students shortly before their departure to India through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Lamido said admission had already been secured for the beneficiaries to study sciences and engineering courses at two reputable Indian institutions; Geeta and MJR Universities respectively.
He said the beneficiaries were sponsored to study pharmacy, physiotherapy, medical laboratory technology, engineering, computer science, software engineering, cyber security and machine learning, among other related courses.
“We have designed a comprehensive scholarship programme to sponsor 100 Sokoto indigene students. It is a fully funded scholarship package for the beneficiaries selected from across the Sokoto East Senatorial District.
“The package encompasses School/Tuition fees, Accommodation, Feeding, Exam fees, Monthly stepping, Visa charges, Flight Tickets and Health insurance among other charges.
“The first batch of 57 students has departed to India and we are working for the departure of the second batch of students. Each student is sponsored at no less than N45,000’000 for the period of four years of his/her studies”, Sen. Lamido said.
The lawmaker added that the scholarship was meant to pay back his constituents by sponsoring their children to acquire education, noting that “this is the best way I can pay my constituents. By the time the beneficiaries graduate and return to Nigeria, they will be very useful to our society.”
He urged the beneficiaries to focus on their studies and be good ambassadors of Sokoto state and Nigeria.
Some of the beneficiaries spoken to commended the Senator for the gesture which they described as timely.
One of them Muhammad Salisu Gatawa said: “Even in my dream, I have never thought of going abroad for my studies but God in His infinite mercy has made someone to sponsor me to India for studies out of generosity.
“It all started like a dream, but as God designed it, here we are at Abuja Airport for our trip to India for studies. Alhamdulillah. All I would have to say is that we will reciprocate this precious gesture by concentrating on our studies”, said Muhammad Salisu Gatawa.
Another beneficiary, Abubakar Isa said: “When my credentials were collected for onward transmission to the committee saddled with the responsibility of screening eligible students, I never took it seriously because it is not the first time politicians are collecting our papers under the guise of scholarship.
“But some days after, I was called for the screening and later informed that I was qualified for the scholarship. Even at that, I wasn’t convinced it was real until when I was asked to get prepared for the trip”, he added.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
