Kano pays Cyprus, India, Egypt varsities students’ fees

Universities in Cyprus, India and Egypt have been paid all fees by the Kano State Government for students under its sponsorship, Dr Hussaini Akilu Jarma, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said.

This is in addition to N615, 415,245 paid to students in four universities in Sudan as fees, not long, he said.

Jarma made the disclosure while speaking to journalists in Abuja. He said government provided the much needed financial support to overseas students at different universities.

He also stated that the governor has made plans to ensure that students earned their bachelor’s degrees on time and without facing hardship.

The SSA revealed that students on the state government’s sponsorship in Egypt’s October 6 University and Mansoura University were given N1,040,823,184.98 as their tuition fees, while those in Near East University, Cyprus received N24,112,800 as upkeep allowance and N360,048,237.56 tuition fees.

The government released the sum of N64,928,550 as payment of air tickets and registration fees to pharmacy students in India, he also said.

Apart from international students, government also provided financial support to students at the Nigerian Law School to the tune of N69,010,000, according to the governor’s aide.

He said the sum of N300,000,000 was further released as internal payments for students.

Jarma said students on the state’s scholarship at local private universities were also given their bursary awards and their tuition fees paid.

“The sum of N646,098,371.65 was paid as tuition fees for students in private universities in Nigeria while N117,310,000 was given to them as upkeep allowances. The institutions were American University of Nigeria, Yola, Igbinedion University, Okada, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Bells University of Technology, Ota and AlQalam University, Katsina.

He said the authorities are poised to ensure quality learning environment at all state-owned higher institutions and encourage teachers to be up-todate with the constant changes in educational research, development and policy thrusts.

“Keeping teachers motivated is one of the most significant measures taken by this government,” he said and urged students to be disciplined and not allow anything to distract them from their studies.