100 Sokoto Indigenes To Benefit From Senator Lamido Scholarship
By Abdullahi Yusuf
No fewer than 100 Sokoto indigene students are expected to benefit from the Senator Ibrahim Lamido (Sokoto East)’s foreign scholarship scheme this year.
Senator Lamido disclosed this in his farewell message to the first batch of 57 students shortly before their departure to India through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Lamido said admission had already been secured for the beneficiaries to study sciences and engineering courses at two reputable Indian institutions; Geeta and MJR Universities, respectively.
He said the beneficiaries were sponsored to study pharmacy, physiotherapy, medical laboratory technology, engineering, computer science, software engineering, cyber security and machine learning among other related courses.
“We have designed a comprehensive scholarship programme to sponsor 100 Sokoto indigene students. It is a fully funded scholarship package for the beneficiaries selected from across Sokoto East Senatorial District.
“The package encompasses School/Tuition fees, Accommodation, Feeding, Exam fees, Monthly stepping, Visa charges, Flight Tickets and Health insurance among other charges.
“The first batch of 57 students has departed to India and we are working for the departure of the second batch of the students. Each student is sponsored at no less than N45,000’000 for the period of four years of his/her studies,” Sen. Lamido said.
The lawmaker added that the scholarship was meant to pay back his constituents by sponsoring their children to acquire education, noting that “this is the best way I can pay my constituents.By time the beneficiaries graduated and return to Nigeria they will be very useful to our society.”
He urged the beneficiaries to focus on their studies and be good ambassadors of Sokoto state and Nigeria.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoken to commended the Senator for the gesture which they described as timely.
One of them Muhammad Salisu Gatawa said: “Even in my dream, I have never thought of going abroad for my studies but God in His infinite mercy has made someone to 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 for studies. Alhamdulillah. All I would have to say is that we will reciprocate this precious gesture by concentrating on our studies,” said Muhammad Salisu Gatawa.
Another beneficiary, Abubakar Isa said: “When my credentials were collected for onward transmission to the committee saddled with responsibility of screening eligible students, I never take it serious because it is not the first time, politicians are collecting our papers under the guise of scholarship.
“But some days after, I was called for the screening and later informed that I was qualified for the scholarship. Even at that I wasn’t convinced it is real until when I was asked to get prepared for the trip,” he added.
