No fewer than 100 students from Sokoto State are set to benefit from Senator Ibrahim Lamido’s (Sokoto East) foreign scholarship scheme this year.
In his farewell message to the first batch of 57 beneficiaries at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly before their departure to India, Senator Lamido expressed his commitment to empowering his constituents through education.
READ MORE: ICPC investigates N355m constituency projects in Sokoto State
The beneficiaries have secured admissions to study sciences and engineering courses at two reputable Indian institutions, Geeta and MJR Universities. They will pursue programs such as pharmacy, physiotherapy, medical laboratory technology, engineering, computer science, software engineering, cyber security, and machine learning.
“We have designed a comprehensive scholarship program to sponsor 100 Sokoto indigene students. It is a fully funded scholarship package for the beneficiaries selected from across Sokoto East Senatorial District,” Lamido stated.
“The package encompasses school/tuition fees, accommodation, feeding, exam fees, monthly stipends, visa charges, flight tickets, and health insurance, among other costs. The first batch of 57 students has departed to India, and we are working for the departure of the second batch. Each student is sponsored at no less than N45,000,000 for the period of four years of his/her studies,” he added.
Lamido explained that the initiative is his way of giving back to his constituents by sponsoring their children’s education. He emphasized the value of the program, stating, “By the time the beneficiaries graduate and return to Nigeria, they will be very useful to our society.”
The Senator urged the beneficiaries to focus on their studies and represent Sokoto State and Nigeria with dignity.
Some beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for the opportunity, describing it as life-changing.
One of them, Muhammad Salisu Gatawa, shared his disbelief and excitement, saying, “Even in my dream, I have never thought of going abroad for my studies, but God in His infinite mercy has made someone 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. Alhamdulillah. All I can say is that we will reciprocate this precious gesture by concentrating on our studies.”
Another beneficiary, Abubakar Isa, recounted his initial skepticism. “When my credentials were collected for onward transmission to the committee saddled with the responsibility of screening eligible students, I did not take it seriously because it is not the first time politicians have collected our papers under the guise of scholarships.
“But some days later, I was called for the screening and informed that I qualified for the scholarship. Even then, I wasn’t convinced it was real until I was asked to prepare for the trip,” Isa explained.
The scholarship program by Senator Lamido is seen as a beacon of hope for many families in Sokoto, marking a significant step toward human capital development in the region.
