The Kebbi government says it will sponsor over 300 students to India, Turkey, and Cyprus to study medicine, health sciences, paramedics, and engineering.

The Commissioner for Higher Education, Mukhtar Bunza, announced this at the swearing-in and inauguration of new executive members of the National Union of Kebbi State Students the College of Nursing Sciences, Birnin Kebbi, on Sunday.

Mr. Bunza, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Halima Dikko, said, “This administration of Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu is poised to sponsoring more than 300 students to India, Turkey, and Cyprus for studies in medicine, health sciences, para-medicals, and engineering.

“This has been made possible following a bilateral agreement between the Kebbi state government and some foreign institutions. This administration has vowed to sustain the sponsorship of students within and outside the country for educational pursuit in all fields.”

According to him, this is attested to by the governor’s objective towards ensuring that quality education is provided to students to enable them to compete with their counterparts globally.

The commissioner affirmed that all institutions of learning in the state received special attention towards attaining high standards and recognition.

He stated that among the administration’s achievements were the upgrading of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and School of Health Technology to the collegiate system.

He said the government had signed into law an edict that allowed the colleges to offer Higher National Diplomat (HND) certificates to consolidate and legalise the initiative.

Similarly, the commissioner said the Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu, was empowered to start degree programmes in addition to its statutory NCE programmes.

Mr. Bunza further announced that the University of Science and Technology, Aliero, had received approval from the NUC for a Bachelor of Science in nursing and midwifery services.

He expressed optimism that the institution would admit students for the 2021/2022 session after final professional approvals from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and Nursing Council of Nigeria were granted.

He restated his government’s readiness to encourage students of the state to attain their pinnacle in education through scholarship, training, and retraining of students and teachers, apart from providing a conducive learning environment.

(NAN)