Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has sponsored 180 postgraduate students to pursue their studies in Malaysia and India. During a send-off event at the Government House in Maiduguri, he encouraged the recipients to commit themselves to their academic pursuits. Among the beneficiaries are 12 PhD and 53 master’s students heading to Sharda University in India, along with another 12 PhD and 73 master's candidates going to Integral University, India. Additionally, 29 other students will undertake master's and PhD programs at various universities in Malaysia.
He said, “We expect each of you to exhibit a strong dedication to your studies and, in the future, to any professional roles you assume. Your dedication is crucial to ensuring that the benefits of your education directly contribute to the development and progress of Borno State. We trust that you will honour this responsibility and use the knowledge and skills you gain to make a positive impact on our society”.
While congratulating the beneficiaries, Zulum highlighted that an additional monthly allowance of approximately 150 US dollars has been approved to support their living expenses. He remarked, “At this point, I want to congratulate you on your achievements. However, I must remind you that the government has made a substantial investment in your education. As previously stated, nearly N2 billion will be allocated annually for your tuition alone”.
“Additionally, I have directed that a monthly allowance of 150 USD be provided for your upkeep. It is important to note that with great opportunities come great responsibilities”. Zulum also announced that the scholarship beneficiaries will be granted automatic employment upon completing their studies. He mentioned that upon their return, some of these beneficiaries will have the opportunity to teach at various tertiary institutions in Borno.
“Those of you pursuing master’s degrees, where possible, try as much as possible to obtain your PhD. On this note, I want to direct the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation to liaise with the tertiary institutions in the state and see the possibility of recruiting some of today’s beneficiaries so that they will immediately resume duty on their return”, Zulum said.
Earlier, Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe, the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, explained that the 180 beneficiaries will be pursuing courses in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in India and Malaysia. He noted that ₦1,988,670,230 has been allocated to cover the tuition fees for these foreign scholarship recipients, while an additional ₦338,500,000 has been set aside for local scholarships, benefiting 303 students.
