A Katsina State-based philanthropist and chief of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Dr Tukur Tingilin, has distributed 300 University Tertiary Matriculation Examination forms to indigent candidates in the Malumfashi and Kafur Local Government Areas of the state.

Mr Tingilin, who also sponsored 50 pupils for the National Examination Council, made this known during an interview on Monday.

Mr Tingilin, who is the managing director of the Katsina State Water Board Corporation, said the gesture was aimed at promoting scholarship by making the beneficiaries become productive members of society.

“The gesture is also to complement the effort of the state government in education, and also prepare the youth to compete with others across the globe. Apart from the UTME forms, we have organised training for them, especially on computer literacy which exposed them to computer-based examinations. We have put the necessary measures to ensure that they passed the examination and also secure admission in various universities of their choice. Those that cannot afford to pay their school fees after securing the admission, we would pay for them.

“By next year, through the support of Governor Dikko Radda, we are hoping to pay for more pupils that performed better in public examinations,” Mr Tingilin said.

The philanthropist also disbursed N5, 000 each to 975 under privileged residents of the areas, and provided blankets to Almajirai across some selected Tsangaya (Islamiya) schools in the area.

According to him, the gesture initiated by Zanna Foundation in collaboration with Ash-Shifa Social Development and Health Awareness Group is aimed at promoting self sustainability.

On his part, the state governor, Dikko Radda, lauded the groups, describing the intervention as a welcome development, because it was one of the areas his administration prioritised.

Mr Radda explained that with such initiatives, the APC does not need to go for any campaign during future elections in the state.

He therefore challenged other politicians in the state to emulate such gestures to earn more support from their people. 

(NAN)