Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi says only his state offers free education and scholarships to students studying within and outside the country.

Mr Idris disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Students’ Matters, Sunday Dare, in the government house, Birnin Kebbi, on Thursday.

The SSA was accompanied by the national president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Olusola Oladejo.

He said, “It might interest you to note that it is only Kebbi that offers total free education in Nigeria; we pay tuition fees for all our students up to secondary and tertiary institutions.”

“Recently, I paid N2.7 billion tuition for both students studying across tertiary institutions within and outside Nigeria.”

Mr Idris said his administration offers total scholarships to the students, adding, “We are doing this to remove the stress and burden from the parents.

“That is why we deem it fit to shoulder the responsibility of free education, scholarships to all our students.”

Mr Idris added that the feeding money for students across boarding schools in the state had been increased from N150 million to N300 million monthly.

The governor said that in line with his administration’s efforts to raise the standard of teaching and learning, the embargo on employment had been lifted, where about 5,000 qualified teachers were gainfully employed.

“To enhance the learning environment, my administration has rehabilitated 2,004 primary and secondary schools, while over 340 new ones were constructed,” Mr Idris revealed.

Speaking on infrastructure, the governor lauded President Bola Tinubu for supporting the state to record tremendous achievements in road construction.

He cited the construction of the 1,008-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway as one of the legacy projects of Mr Tinubu, expressing happiness that Kebbi would be the major benefiting state, with about 280 kilometres to be constructed.

While thanking the president for revoking the 87-kilometre Koko-Zuru road contract, the governor observed that the revocation had paved the way for Kebbi to execute the project for quick delivery, and it is expected to be repaid later.

Mr Idris also commended Mr Tinubu for his foresight to introduce the student loans scheme, adding that his administration was replicating the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Earlier, the SSA to the president on students’ matters commended the state government for implementing free education and full scholarships for students in the state.

On his part, the NANS national president applauded the state governor for constructing four mega schools, which spread across the four Emirates of the state.

(NAN)