The Mohammed Ndarani, SAN Humanitarian Foundation, through its women wing, has disbursed N100 million to sponsor the education of indigent students drawn from across the Niger South Senatorial Zone.

The scholarship intervention targets students whose parents are financially disadvantaged and currently studying in various universities as part of deliberate efforts to expand access to education and reduce the burden on vulnerable families.

Beneficiaries of the educational support were selected from Bida, Lavun, Edati, Mokwa, Agaie, Lapai, Katcha and Gbako Local Government Areas, ensuring equitable spread across the senatorial zone.

The cheque was formally presented to members of the Steering Committee of Women in Politics and Inclusive Governance, under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, by Mr Ndarani, a learned silk, during a ceremony held on Saturday in Bida, Niger.

Speaking after the presentation, the founder of the foundation and renowned legal luminary, Mr Ndarani, Hukunchi Nupe and Hausaland, said the initiative was part of his personal as well as the collective contribution to reposition education as a catalyst for sustainable development.

Mr Ndarani explained that education remains the most effective tool for lifting communities out of poverty, stressing that no society can attain meaningful progress without deliberate investment in human capital development.

He stated that the scholarship scheme was designed to support students from under-privileged backgrounds who possess the determination and capacity to succeed academically but were constrained by economic hardship.

According to him, the foundation deliberately focused on tertiary education because of its multiplier effect on families, communities and the wider society, adding,” empowering one student has the potential to uplift generations.”

Mr Ndarani further stated that the initiative aligned with his lifelong belief that leadership must be anchored on service, compassion and inclusiveness, especially towards women and young people who constitute the backbone of future leadership.

He emphasised that philanthropy should not be about publicity, but about creating opportunities, restoring hope and giving people the platform to realise their God-given potentials.

He added that the foundation was established to contribute to societal growth through humanitarian efforts.

“I’m so delighted to see that all the students who benefited from the foundation’s scholarship scheme were overwhelmed.

“In addition, this foundation has been sponsoring JAMB, paying for WAEC for some students across Zone A and across Niger while it has been drilling boreholes for many communities.

*So, this foundation is deeply on ground for service to humanity,” Mr Ndarani averred.

The legal icon reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining the scholarship programme and called on other well-meaning Nigerians to complement government’s efforts by investing in education as a shared national responsibility.

In his remarks, the president-general of CAGRAT and national chairman, Nupe Development Forum (Nupe-Defo), Muhammadu Dagaci, Zarumi Agaie, stressed that credible leadership and good governance can only be achieved when citizens actively participate in building consensus and working collectively towards shared goals.

The Zarumi Agaie described the intervention as a generational contribution by a philanthropist who truly understood the plight of the poor.

He explained that the scholarship grant was carefully targeted at students from economically disadvantaged families, saying that due diligence was carried out to ensure only deserving beneficiaries were selected.

The national president of CAGRAT said the selection process was conducted with transparency and sensitivity, bearing in mind the prevailing economic difficulties in the country, and described the exercise as largely successful.

He disclosed that each beneficiary would receive N100,000, with funds distributed evenly across the local government areas within the senatorial zone. 

According to him, the foundation adopted a bank-to-bank electronic transfer system, ensuring that the funds were paid directly into individual students’ accounts, thereby eliminating intermediaries and guaranteeing accountability. 

Mr Dagachi commended the effectiveness of the process, stating that it reflected the founder’s commitment to integrity and proper stewardship of resources.

He described the scholarship scheme as a deliberate effort at legacy building.

The coordinator stressed that legacy outlives individuals, adding that investing in education remained the most enduring form of legacy because it facilitates generational succession, knowledge transfer and professional continuity.

He lamented that the lack of commitment to legacy building and mentorship by many privileged individuals had contributed to global socio-economic crises, urging leaders and philanthropists to consciously support initiatives that secure the future of the next generation.

Mr Dagachi, however, commended Mr Ndarani for hi foresight in assisting the less privileged persons in the society, while appealing to the people of the zone to support his senatorial ambition for the zone to move forward.

Also speaking, the chairperson of the Event Steering Committee, Maryam Mohammed-Ndarani, disclosed that her husband is committed to the welfare of the people, particularly the less-privileged ones in the society.

She assured that the women wing of the foundation would do everything humanly possible to empower women to alleviate their suffering.

In her remarks, the secretary of the Steering Committee, Safiya Dagachi-Muhammad lauded Mr Ndarani ‘s humanitarian foundation for supporting the plight of the women.

She disclosed also that the foundation had assisted so many women cooperatives in the Zone to bolster their business to grow.

Mrs Dagachi-Muhammad disclosed that the women wing of the foundation honoured Mr Umaru-Bago as the ‘Exemplary Governor for Women in Politics’, for his unwavering dedication to empowering women and promoting inclusive leadership.

According to her, Mr Umaru-Bago stands out as an exceptional and visionary leader whose administration had significantly advanced the inclusion and empowerment of women in politics.

The government was also renowned for his strategic appointments, and strong support for women-focused initiatives, hence his recent declaration that women were elected as vice chairmen in all the 25 local government areas across the state.

Dignitaries who graced the occasion included the APC zonal vice chairman in Zone A, former APC governorship candidate, Mohammed Shinkafa, Shinkafa Nupe and prominent APC members from across the state.

Others were past and present local governments chairmen from the zone, vice chairmen, women leaders, traditional rulers and various students union leaders, among others.

(NAN)