Senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila has offered N153m scholarship to 100 less privileged constituents.
BizPoint understands that the scholarship is for beneficiaries to study nursing and other health related courses.
The beneficiaries which include 60 male and 40 female were selected from 171 wards across the 16 local government areas of his senatorial district.
The students are to undergo their studies in five selected private institutions of Aminu Dabo College of Nursing Science, Pyramid College of Nursing, Rawafiq International College, Dansharif College of Nursing and Iqra’a College of Nursing.
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According to the package of the scholarship N141m is meant for the registration, accommodation and other fees, while the balance of N12m is the 10,000 monthly stipend per student for a year.
Unveiling the programme on Tuesday at an occasion held at Grand Central Hotel, Kano, Senator Sumaila said the beneficiaries are the first batch of the programme, adding that the 2nd and 3rd batches of 100 students each would be sponsored.
Sumaila explained that the 2nd batch of the beneficiaries would be sponsored by January 2024 afte which the 3rd batch would follow.
“My plan is to produce 200 health personnel by the end of my tenure. I have paid for the registration fees and accommodation of the beneficiaries. In addition, each student will receive a 10,000 monthly stipend throughout 36 months programme.
“The gesture is part of my campaign promises. I had toured 140 out of the 171 wards of my constituency during my campaign and I have noticed lack of manpower in virtually all our health centers. This is why I have come up with this programme in order to make our health facilities functional.
“I have selected 6 people from each of the 16 local governments so that after graduation, they will come back and serve their respective communities. By the time the 3rd batch will complete their studies, our health facilities will have adequate personnel to serve our people.
“I have tried similar programme when I was a member in the House of Representatives and produced 100 health personnel, renovated several health centers and conducted series of health delivery outreach in several villages,” he recalled.
Senator Sumaila, however, warned the beneficiaries to desist from all forms of drugs abuses and other immoralities during their studies, as according to him he would not condone such from any students under his sponsorship.
“I implore you to rededicate yourselves during your studies so that you will graduate with good results. I will not condone any form of laxity from your side. My team of experts will persistently monitor your activists while in school and any student found wanting in drugs abuse and lagging behind in his/her studies would be delisted from my scholarship programme.
“I cannot continue spending huge money anybody that is not willing to study. There millions of others that are in need of such scholarship. I am therefore, urging you to be good ambassadors of your parents, constituency and state as a whole.
Also speaking, the Registrar, Aminu Dabo College of Nursing Science, Hajiya Halima Lawal Dambazau, commended Senator Sumaila for the gesture, assuring that the college will give adequate attention to the beneficiaries during their stay at the institution.
One of the beneficiaries, Aisha Abubakar expressed gratitude to Senator Sumaila for selecting them to benefit from the gesture, saying “The man has given us hope and chance to fulfill my dream of becoming a nursing officer.
Another beneficiary, Jibril Wada promised to study hard and come out with good results, saying “after my graduation, I will come back to my community and serve them. I most pay back my society what the society done to me.”
