Zaria students win science award
Two students of Therbow Secondary School, Sabon Gari, Zaria, have won the Sani Mohammed Sha’aban Foundation awards of best in academics, morals and science subjects.
A statement from the Sha’aban Media Office said Taiwo Bamidele and Aisha Ibrahim Dabo won the maiden Sani Mohammed Sha’aban Foundation Awards. Bamidele and Aisha were adjudged best in academics, morals and science subjects. The foundation had earlier instituted yearly awards for best graduating students.
The principal of the school, Alhaji Mustapha Jibril, said the award ceremony was suspended for fear of attacks, saying, “we were afraid of the incessant attacks in the country at that time, but now there is improvement in security and we have held the award successfully.”
He said the sponsor of the awards, a former member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Sani Mohammed Sha’aban, had also agreed to pay school fees of some native students in the school.
“When we met with Sha’aban in the course of our preparation for the award ceremony, we told him that our biggest challenge was the inability of some parents to pay school fees. We urged him to assist in this aspect by offsetting some outstanding fees of some of the students,” he said.
The principal called on other wealthy individuals to emulate the gesture by assisting the less privileged in the society.
Speaking at his residence after the event, Sha’aban said it was the duty of the elite to uplift and assist in the betterment of society.
“We just have to assist our people in whatever way we can because the level of poverty is alarming. People can no longer afford three square meals not to talk of paying school fees, and we can’t afford to compromise the future of our children. Education is important. Without it, there will be no better future,” Sha’aban said.