By Mohammed Abubakar, Dutse
The Jigawa state government said it expended over N8.1 billion as scholarships for students of the state origin studying in tertiary institutions in and out of the country in 2026 academic session as part of the government efforts to boost education.
Governor Umar Namadi who disclosed at the launch of the 2026 Mega Programme under the Danmodi Students’ Care Initiative, noted that the figure was outside the other scholarship programmes being embarked upon by the state government
According to the governor, “To demonstrate our commitment, in the 2025 fiscal year alone, we invested nearly N8.1 billion in scholarships on both domestic and international students, covering almost 35,000 students, which includes more than 230 students studying at prestigious foreign universities, with a focus on medical and engineering courses.”
He maintained The Danmodi Student Care Initiative stood out as one of the most remarkable developments in his administration that has continued to evolve and implement interventions in line with its mission as a transformative, comprehensive and landmark initiative aimed at empowering students from diverse backgrounds and across all levels of education, including the Almajirai in our traditional Qur’anic Schools.
His words, “I’m highly delighted that the Initiative has always prioritised inclusivity, respect, and dignity, consistently working to restore hope and secure a brighter future for our youth.
“Most importantly, it exemplifies our administration’s unwavering dedication to education and student welfare, ensuring that every child receives the support they need to thrive and that no child is left behind.
“Beyond the Student Care Program, our administration believes in the fact that our youth are our pride and the hope for our future. Their energy and potential are the driving force behind our society’s progress and long-term prosperity, for which we must continue to invest in order to ensure the continued advancement of our beloved state. Indeed, a core pillar of our 12-Point Agenda for Greater Jigawa is “Investing in People.”
“We have consistently demonstrated this commitment through comprehensive initiatives, particularly those designed to empower youth and women by providing essential resources and opportunities for meaningful participation in our state’s development.
“Our unwavering belief in the potential of Jigawa’s youth inspires us to support them as agents of transformation. By offering resources and fostering a supportive environment, we are laying the groundwork for a brighter future and dedicating ourselves to helping our youth realize their potential and lead our society forward.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Matters, Salisu Muhammad Seeker, under whose of office the programme is lodged said.
the programme was designed to promote social and economic inclusion in the state.
He said so far the Danmodi Students Care Initiative has trained 2,500 Almajiri in various vocational skills and provided them with startup packages to complement the Jigawa State Government’s efforts in tackling street begging, promoting job creation, and eradicating poverty gulping over N600 million since it’s inception in 2023.
He stated that the 2,500 Almajiri were selected from various Tsangaya schools across the state and were given skill training and empowerment packages to make them self-reliant during and after their Quranic studies.
“The beneficiaries were trained in shoe shining and barbing, and each received a full set of tools needed to start the trade. More so, 287 Alarammas (Quranic tutors) were given a cash grant of N50,000 each”.
“Besides the Almajiri empowerment, today we are also distributing 300 bicycles and wheelchairs to less privileged and physically challenged pupils to encourage them to remain regular in classroom attendance”.
“We are also flagging off the distribution of 25,000 school uniforms to Basic Education pupils from rural areas and 100 laptops to Jigawa State students studying at the Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil, and the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna,” Comrade Salisu stated.
He noted, however, that all the programmes and interventions the Danmodi Students Care Initiative has carried out in which over 250,000 students have directly benefited in the last three years was aimed at complementing the Jigawa State Government’s investment in education and human capital development.
News5 days ago
Business News1 week ago
News7 days ago