Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila has offered N153 million in scholarships to 100 less privileged constituents to study nursing and other health-related courses.
The beneficiaries, which include 60 males and 40 females, were selected from 171 wards across the 16 local governments of his senatorial district.
The students are to undergo their studies at five selected private institutions: Aminu Dabo College of Nursing Science, Pyramid College of Nursing, Rawafiq International College, Dansharif College of Nursing, and Iqra’a College of Nursing.
According to the package of the scholarship, N141m is meant for registration, accommodation, and other fees, while the balance of N12m is the 10,000 monthly stipend per student for a year.
Unveiling the programme today during an occasion held at the Grand Central Hotel, Kano, Senator Sumaila said the beneficiaries are the first batch of the programme and that the second and third batches of 100 students each would be sponsored.
By January 2024, the second batch of beneficiaries would have sponsors, and the third batch would come after that.
“My plan is to produce 200 health personnel by the end of my tenure. I have paid for the registration fees and accommodations for the beneficiaries. In addition, each student will receive a $10,000 monthly stipend throughout the 36-month 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 of 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.”
