Kaduna State Government has invested over N1 billion in scholarships, student loans and other educational support programmes in the last three years as part of efforts to expand access to higher education and reduce the financial burden on students.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Kaduna on Thursday, saying education remains a key pillar of Governor Uba Sani’s human capital development agenda.
Maiyaki said one of the administration’s major interventions was the signing of an Executive Order that reduced tuition fees by 50 per cent across all state-owned tertiary institutions, making higher education more affordable for students from different socio-economic backgrounds.
He revealed that the government spent N493.27 million on overseas scholarships for 42 students studying medicine, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering and other strategic courses.
According to him, another N425.52 million was disbursed as local scholarships to indigent students in tertiary institutions across the country, while N105 million was committed to the state’s student loan scheme.
The commissioner added that N27.25 million was released to support law graduates with registration fees for the Nigerian Law School.
He said the combined impact of the tuition fee reduction, scholarship awards and student loan programmes demonstrates Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to removing financial barriers to education and strengthening human capital development in the state.
Maiyaki noted that the administration’s investments are aimed at producing a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation, economic growth and sustainable development.
Providing further details, Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board, Prof. Yahaya Saleh Ibrahim, said more than 21,106 students in over 40 higher institutions had benefited from the scholarship scheme.
He described the programme as one of the most expansive educational support initiatives in the country, noting that Kaduna had become the first state to operate both scholarship and student loan schemes on a broad scale.
He said the flexible repayment structure of the loan scheme allows beneficiaries to choose repayment plans that suit their circumstances, reducing the financial pressure associated with higher education.
One of the beneficiaries, Al’Ameen Abdul Waheed, a Geography student of Kaduna State University (KASU), said the scholarship scheme had eased the burden of tuition payments on his family.
“My parents and I no longer have to worry about paying my tuition fees because I know the Kaduna State Scholarship Scheme will support my education. This has lifted a huge burden from my family,” he said.
