No room for favoritism in student sponsorship – Barau Jibrin warns interview panel

The Deputy Senate President and Senator representing Kano North, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has cautioned the interview panel involved in the selection of candidates for his newly announced 300 postgraduate scholarships to avoid favoritism and ensure a transparent process.

Speaking during the interview for the beneficiaries for the offers at Bayero University, Kano (BUK) on Sunday, Senator Barau emphasized the importance of fairness and merit in the ongoing selection exercise.

He stressed that only the most qualified applicants should be given the opportunity.

“We don’t want any favour to be extended to anybody. Everything should be transparent,” he said.

“We should allow those who are in the best position to pursue this programme to come on board. Do not show any form of partiality.”

Barau, who has previously supported students studying abroad in fields like Artificial Intelligence, said this new initiative is aimed at harnessing the academic strength of local institutions like BUK.

“This university has established itself to the level that can be compared to any university in the world,” he said.

“That is why we are sponsoring our students to study here, especially in fields that are critical to national development. From agriculture to climate change, metallurgy to oil exploration.”

Addressing the panel of professors and lecturers tasked with the interviews, the Senator said the process must be free of bias and political or religious influence.

“I don’t want to know anybody. Even those that went to study outside the country, I didn’t know any of them. You did the interviews, selected the best, and that’s how it should continue,” he added.

He described the initiative as a collective effort to build the country through education.

He called on all stakeholders from government to individuals to contribute their quota.

“Education is the bedrock of every society. To build a sound and effective educational system, it’s not something the government alone can do. Everyone must come on board; religious bodies, wealthy individuals, even the ordinary person.”

Senator Barau expressed deep appreciation to BUK and its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, for supporting the initiative and offering their facilities for the scholarship program.

“We can’t thank the Vice-Chancellor enough. He’s doing his best using the apparatus of the university to develop education, not just within the four walls of BUK, but across the region and the country at large.”

The scholarship program is set to cover 100 percent tuition and fees for 300 postgraduate students across Kano State, focusing on fields critical to the nation’s growth.