Barau Pledges Sustained Investment in Scholarship Programmes to Boost Education in Kano North

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining investment in scholarship programmes to ensure that every child in Kano North Senatorial District has access to quality higher education.

Barau made the pledge in Kano during the presentation of admission letters to beneficiaries of the first batch of his domestic postgraduate scholarship programme.

He said the initiative was designed to promote human capital development and equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute meaningfully to national development.

The Deputy Senate President explained that although his educational interventions extended beyond Kano North, the domestic scholarship programme was focused on specialised fields of study to address critical manpower needs.

He stressed that Northern Nigeria must prioritise investment in higher education to accelerate human capital development, citing India as an example of a country that achieved significant progress through investment in its human resources.

Barau highlighted some of his efforts towards expanding tertiary education opportunities in the district, including the establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo, for which he expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu.

He also recalled his role in facilitating the conversion of the Federal College of Education into a Federal University of Education, while disclosing ongoing efforts to upgrade the Federal College of Education (Technical) into a university and the College of Agriculture, Danbatta, into a Federal University of Agriculture.

According to him, the approval process for the proposed University of Agriculture had reached an advanced stage before political differences temporarily slowed it down.

He expressed optimism that the process would soon be concluded, following the recent political realignment.

The lawmaker also identified the ongoing construction of an Immigration Training School and plans for a Nigeria Customs training institution in Bichi as part of efforts to strengthen educational and institutional development in the district.

He said the scholarship programme was open to students of Kano North origin studying in tertiary institutions across the country, adding that its implementation had commenced with beneficiaries from Sa’adatu Rimi University and other institutions.

Barau urged the beneficiaries to remain committed to their studies, acquire entrepreneurial skills and become self-reliant rather than depending solely on government employment.

The beneficiaries will study courses including Mathematics, Applied Physics, Civil Engineering, Cyber Security, Natural Resource Management and Climate Change, Environmental Management, Geophysics, Chemistry, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Bio-resource Engineering, Solar Energy Engineering, Computer Science and Health Education.

In his remarks, the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Bayero University, Kano, Professor Tijjani Hassan Darma, commended the Deputy Senate President for investing in the education and development of young people.

He described education as one of the greatest legacies parents could give their children and urged the beneficiaries to justify the confidence reposed in them by making good use of the opportunity.