Sen. Suleiman Kawu-Sumaila, representing Kano South Senatorial District, says no fewer than 1,082 students have benefited from his Waraka Scholarship Scheme between 2023 and 2026.
Kawu-Sumaila disclosed this on Sunday in Kano while presenting his scorecard at a one-on-one session organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, in collaboration with his office.
Truthng reports that the programme aims to review the lawmaker’s 2023 campaign promises ahead of 2027.
Kawu-Sumaila said the scholarship covered 852 university students and 230 students in colleges of health sciences, with fees paid directly to their institutions.
“Out of the beneficiaries, 450 students also receive N10,000 monthly through their bank accounts, while accommodation and registration support are provided where necessary.
“Among the beneficiaries, 10 are persons living with disabilities, including 34 postgraduate students and seven foreign students,” he said.
Kawu-Sumaila noted that 473 students were supported in the health sector, while 278 were supported in education-related programmes, particularly in Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Mathematics.
He said the focus on science education was informed by the shortage of qualified science teachers in secondary schools across Kano South.
“In our campaign promises, we pledged to provide 200 teachers. We scouted for people who have NCE qualifications,” he said.
The senator said the scholarship initiative was part of his strategy to address poverty and insecurity through education.
He said the initiative was aimed at improving access to education and equipping young people with skills that could enhance their opportunities for employment and self-reliance.
“Fighting insecurity and poverty by educating people is our policy. If they are educated, they can find jobs for themselves,” he said.
He said schools in Sumaila, Rano, Doguwa, Bebeji, Takai, Kibiya and Garko Local Government Areas had benefited from interventions, including learning materials, classroom renovation and accommodation support for students.
“We provided 3,000 three-seater desks, 1,000 whiteboards and support for 25 school projects across the district, both primary, secondary, Tsangaya and Islamiyya schools,” he said.
The senator said the accommodation payment initiative was part of his efforts to ensure that financial difficulties did not prevent students from completing their education.
“At the end of my tenure, we intend to inject 500 people to work as health workers; that is why we emphasised women,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Murtala Adewale, Chairman of the NUJ Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, said the engagement was organised to enable the media to examine the senator’s campaign promises and achievements since 2023.
Adewale said the media had a constitutional responsibility under Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to hold government accountable to the people.
