Zulum Awards Foreign Scholarships to 180 Postgraduate Students, Guarantees Automatic Employment
By Tada Juthan
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has awarded foreign scholarships to 180 postgraduate students, offering them the chance to pursue advanced degrees in Malaysia and India. The selected indigent students will study at prestigious institutions and are guaranteed automatic employment upon their return.
At a send-off ceremony in Maiduguri on Thursday, Governor Zulum revealed that 12 PhD and 53 Master’s candidates would study at Sharda University in India, while 12 PhD and 73 Master’s students were enrolled at Integral University, India. Additionally, 29 others are set to attend various institutions in Malaysia for their master’s and doctoral studies.
Zulum urged the students to remain committed to their studies, emphasizing the critical role education will play in the development of Borno State. “We expect each of you to exhibit a strong dedication to your studies and, in the future, to any professional roles you assume,” he said. He further stated that their education is a significant investment for the future of the state and encouraged the students to apply their acquired knowledge for the benefit of society.
As part of the scholarship package, each student will receive a monthly stipend of $150 (₦240,000) for their upkeep. Governor Zulum also disclosed that the state would spend ₦2 billion annually on tuition, ensuring that the students’ education is fully supported. He reiterated that, upon completion of their studies, the beneficiaries would be offered teaching positions at various tertiary institutions across Borno State.
Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Lawan Wakilbe, added that the scholarships focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, with 303 students also benefiting from local scholarships worth ₦338.5 million.
Governor Zulum’s initiative highlights his administration’s commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders through education and skills development.
