The Kaduna State government says it has invested more than N1 billion in scholarships, student loans and other educational support programmes over the past three years to expand access to higher education and ease financial burdens on students.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Kaduna on Thursday.

Mr Maiyaki said the investments formed part of Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to human capital development through improved access to education.

According to him, one of the administration’s major interventions was signing an executive order to reduce tuition fees by 50 per cent across all state-owned tertiary institutions.

He said the measure was aimed at making higher education more affordable and accessible to students from different socio-economic backgrounds.

The commissioner disclosed that the state government had spent N493.27 million on overseas scholarships for 42 students studying critical courses, including medicine, computer science, cybersecurity and engineering.

He added that N425.52 million had been disbursed as local scholarships to indigent students enrolled in tertiary institutions nationwide.

Mr Maiyaki further said that the administration committed N105 million to its student loan scheme and released N27.25 million to support law graduates with registration fees for the Nigerian Law School.

“The combined impact of the tuition fee reduction, scholarship awards and student loan programmes demonstrates Gov. Sani’s commitment to removing financial barriers to education and strengthening human capital development in Kaduna State,” he said.

He added that the investments were designed to build a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation, economic growth and sustainable development.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board, Yahaya Ibrahim, said more than 21,106 students had benefited from the scholarship programme.

According to him, the beneficiaries are spread across more than 40 higher institutions, including universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of education, colleges of health technology and nursing schools.

“The Kaduna State Scholarship Scheme under Governor Uba Sani has witnessed unprecedented growth and transformation over the last three years.

“Kaduna became the first state in Nigeria to provide not only scholarships but also student loans, thereby expanding access to higher education for thousands of young people,” Mr Ibrahim said.

He said the state had emerged as a model for educational support through the operation of both scholarship and student loan schemes on a broad scale.

Mr Ibrahim noted that the student loan programme featured a flexible repayment structure that allowed beneficiaries to choose repayment plans suited to their circumstances.

According to him, this enables students to pursue their education without the fear of overwhelming financial obligations.

A beneficiary of the scheme, Al’Ameen Abdul-Waheed, a geography student at Kaduna State University, commended the state government for the initiative.

“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, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity,” he said. 

(NAN)