Parents, Guardians of Selected Students Appeal to Gov. Fintiri to Fulfill Scholarship Promise in Adamawa

By Umar Dankano, Yola

Parents and guardians of 100 students selected for a study scholarship in China have appealed to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State to fulfill his promise of sponsoring them to further their education overseas.

It will be recalled that in November 2024, the Fintiri administration, as part of its priority on education, made a public announcement through the media, inviting O’Level-qualified indigenes to apply for study opportunities in China. After screening, 100 candidates were shortlisted, but since then, no concrete action has been taken by the government to finalize their sponsorship.

Some of the affected students expressed concern over the delay, lamenting that their future is at stake as they could not enroll in local institutions while awaiting the state scholarship, which now appears uncertain.

One of the students, Aisha Yusuf, while commending the government for its foresight in initiating the scholarship program, decried the lack of communication regarding their fate. She said rumors were spreading that the scheme might have been suspended.

“What is more disturbing,” Yusuf added, “is that the Ministry of Education reportedly asked us to collect our original documents, which had been submitted for processing. We are pleading with Governor Fintiri to keep his promise and sponsor us as planned so that posterity will remember him positively.”

Another male student, who preferred anonymity, noted that the development had thrown their families into confusion.

“This matter is disturbing me and my parents. The government should come out clearly to tell us whether the program has been suspended or will still go ahead so that we can have peace of mind,” he stated.

A parent, Yakubu Musa, expressed disappointment over the wasted time, describing the situation as a failure of proper communication between the government and the beneficiaries.

“Our children have been waiting patiently, but we are left in the dark. The government should help secure the admission so that the students can acquire knowledge and be useful to themselves, their families, and society,” Musa said.

Speaking on the issue, an education analyst, Dr. Jibrilla Adamu, described the situation as regrettable, stressing that a promise is a bond that builds trust between government and citizens.

“At any given time, the government must fulfill promises made to young people. Failure to do so is a major setback to education and the state’s development. Governor Fintiri’s administration should urgently resolve whatever stumbling blocks exist to ensure these youths contribute meaningfully as professionals in the future,” Adamu advised.

Reacting to the concerns, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Pella Garba Umar, said the government had already screened and compiled the list of successful candidates and was in talks with Chinese authorities to finalize the admission process.

On the timeline for the students’ departure, Dr. Umar explained that there was no fixed or tentative date for airlifting them until all necessary procedures were concluded between the state government and the Chinese counterparts.

Similarly, Hajiya Maryam Umar Kano, the consultant handling the admission process, confirmed that her organization had indeed partnered with the Adamawa State Government, adding that discussions with the Chinese institutions were ongoing.