The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation has granted scholarship to 200 undergraduates from poor families in the 19 Northern states and Federal Capital Territory.
The Managing Director and Chief executive officer of the foundation, Engr. Abubakar Gambo Umar, made the disclosure in an interview with journalists shortly after the opening ceremony of the presentation of checks to students in Kaduna.
Engr. Abubakar Gambo Umar explained that the scholarship grant was for undergraduates studying sciences, engineering and medicine courses.
According to him, the foundation has been selecting 200 undergraduates, 10 from each states from the 19 Northern states and FCT for the award of the scholarship.
According to him “The scholarship is only awarded for those students who are indigent and have difficulty in settling their school fees”.
“We ensure that those that benefit from the scholarship are brilliant students who have CGP of 2.5 and above both in universities and the polytechnics.”
The managing director added that it was awarded to students from 200 level”.
He explained that, about 47 per cent of the beneficiaries have graduated with first-class degrees and distinction from universities and polytechnics.
“We are happy to say that we have touched their lives and it is a thing of pride they have become what we call the Sir Ahmadu Bello scholars,” he said.
Engr. Umar explained that the foundation has been bringing the beneficiaries together to know themselves, share experiences, and participate in mentorship programmes.
“Some of them that were not able to get jobs, we help them through referrals to get employment in public service or private sector,” he added.
He disclosed that since the establishment of the Foundation in 2009 by the 19 Northern Governors, had intervened in education, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and health sectors.
“We have done a lot of intervention on leadership values, holding annual lectures on good governance, and we have been able to achieve a lot in conflict resolution and peace building across the north”.
“We have also done a lot of intervention on the problems associated with internally displaced persons and refugees across the North”, he added.
THESHIELD Garkuwa
