The Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has approved a scholarship initiative worth N5 billion for 30,000 students from the North-West geopolitical zone who are currently enrolled in tertiary institutions across the country.
This development was made public in a statement issued by Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.
According to the statement, 7,000 of the beneficiaries are from Kaduna State, with the remaining 23,000 drawn from the six other states that make up the North-West region.
The funds were disbursed during a ceremony held at the recently established Federal University of Education, Zaria. The scholarship programme is being implemented through the collaboration of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Microvis Micro Finance Bank.
Depending on their chosen field of study, each student is set to receive between N200,000 and N800,000. The scholarships are intended to cover tuition fees, book purchases, and stipends to support students’ academic journeys. Beneficiaries were selected from Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.
Rt. Hon. Abbas described the initiative as a far-reaching educational intervention aimed at transforming lives across the region. He said it aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“This is an unprecedented initiative in our region’s history. These scholarships will benefit bright young men and women from Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states, every corner of the North-West. This is a truly grand endeavour, covering all seven states of our zone and uniting us in the pursuit of knowledge and progress.”
The Speaker highlighted the focus on students pursuing courses in critical sectors such as Medicine, Engineering, Law, and Technology, noting that the nation requires more professionals in these fields to meet pressing developmental needs.
“What makes this scholarship programme special is not just its scale, but its focus. We are directing support to students pursuing courses in critical fields like Medicine, Engineering, Law, and Technology, among others. By doing so, we are investing in Nigeria’s future doctors, engineers, lawyers, and innovators. Our nation urgently needs more professionals in these fields,” he added.
Encouraging beneficiaries to apply themselves diligently, Abbas urged them to view the scholarship as both a privilege and a responsibility.
In a related development, he also announced plans for the construction of a modern orphanage in Zaria as part of his broader commitment to humanitarian and educational advancement.
Speaking at the event, the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani—represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Alhaji Rabiu Yunusa—commended the Speaker’s initiative, describing it as a meaningful step towards improving the lives of Kaduna’s youth and the region at large.