The Wife of Katsina State Governor, Hajiya Zulaihat Radda, says she has mapped out strategies to secure foreign scholarship for 50 qualified students of the state.

The governor’s wife stated this on Monday in Katsina during the final of the state’s Inter-Schools Science Practical Quiz, Debate Competition and Presentation of Awards.

The competition was organised by an NGO, Ash-shifa Social Development, Education and Health Awareness Initiative.

The governor’s wife said, “Already, I have secured and distributed 50 scholarship forms to qualified students across the state.”

She said that the gesture was made in her capacity as the wife of the Katsina State governor and the state coordinator of Renewed Hope Agenda, a pet project of the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu.

“Very soon, the candidates will be invited for an aptitude test in Abuja, and winners will receive 7,000 US Dollars each as scholarship. In addition, 500 forms were equally secured and distributed to Katsina indigenes for the award of scholarship to study in higher institutions of learning in Nigeria,” she stated.

The governor’s wife added that recently, she personally sponsored an indigene of the state “who is currently studying in Belarus.

“It is on record that the current administration of my husband has accorded priority to education. It has expended millions of naira, and provided scholarships to 41 students to study medicine in Egypt. Similarly, scholarships were equally awarded to law graduates who are currently in the law school,” she said.

The governor’s wife commended the NGO for organising the competition, saying: “its objectives and significance in the state cannot be overstated.”

According to her, the event serves as an avenue for promoting academic excellence, fostering innovation, collaboration and nurturing the next generation of leaders.

“As we continue to support and invest in these initiatives, let us reaffirm our commitment to building a brighter future for our state and the nation.

“By engaging students in science practical quizzes and debates, we empower them to explore their curiosity, think critically, and develop practical skills essential for success in the modern world,” she said.

Earlier, the Executive Director of the NGO, Malam Abdullahi Jibril, said they dwelled more on humanitarian services with much emphasis on education and health.

Mr Jibril added that the competition focused on science subjects such as physics, chemistry and biology, to complement the state government’s efforts in education.

“In our research, we have come to realise that most of the students nowadays, pay more attention to games and social media activities. This attitude has negative effects on their education, especially in the area of sciences.

“Therefore, we saw the need to contribute our quota toward boosting their knowledge, especially in this aspect,” Mr Jibril said.

He noted that the competition would be a platform to identify students’ challenges in terms of practical science for possible intervention from the government.

The occasion featured presentation of trophies and cash to winners as well as awards to some notable personalities for their contribution to the development of education in the state.

(NAN)