After years of negligence under the previous administration, 84 students stranded in Northern Cyprus were finally helped out by Abba Kabir Yusuf, the governor of Kano State. The outstanding tuition and lodging costs totaling N2.24 billion were cleared.
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When former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje ended the scholarship program, it meant that the students who had been supported by Near East University under Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso could no longer finish their degrees or get their certificates.
Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, a spokesman for the governor, announced the intervention on Thursday and characterized the payment as a moral and humanitarian necessity.
Problems started for the students when Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s administration ended the scholarship program, cutting off their funding, study, and housing options while they were still in Cyprus.
Some allegedly suffered legal threats, classroom exclusion, and eviction from hostels. Upon receiving the news, many of the students’ families were moved to tears of relief and thanks.
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“I never thought this day would come,” expressed Aisha Umar, a mother of one of the students. We pleaded, wept, and endured shame. Governor Abba has dried our tears today.
Among the recipients are 28 students pursuing degrees in medicine, as well as those in the fields of dentistry, computer science, biomedical sciences, pharmacy, and nursing. Due to the debt, most were unable to acquire their credentials, even if they had completed their courses.
As a further gesture of goodwill, Yusuf has authorized the automatic hiring of all returning graduates into the Kano State Civil Service, guaranteeing that the state will make good use of these individuals’ talents.
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After denouncing the desertion as a political abuse of educational chances, education advocates, diaspora groups, and human rights organizations have mostly hailed the development.
According to Hauwa Salihu, a member of the Kano Diaspora Support Group, “This action shows leadership and empathy.” The political establishment ignored these kids. They are heroes here today, and we welcome them home.
This decision has sparked discussions about the importance of educational program policy continuity, with many people now demanding that scholarship programs be shielded from future political interference.
Since assuming office, Yusuf’s administration has prioritized education, reinvesting in scholarship programs, school lunch programs, and educational infrastructure throughout the state.
At last, after what seems like an eternity, officials are making preparations to ensure the safe return and complete reintegration of the Cypriot students.