Governor Lawal awards full scholarships to 30 gifted Zamfara students

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has awarded full scholarships to 30 gifted students from the state who gained admission to the prestigious Federal Government Academy, Suleja. The announcement was made during a reception at the Government House, where the governor hosted the students and representatives from the Muhammad Kabir Danbaba Centre for Women and Youth Development.

In a statement on Thursday, the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, credited the Centre for its crucial role in propelling Zamfara State to the top spot among northern states in the National Examination Council (NECO) entrance exams for gifted students. A notable number of the highest-performing students in the exams hailed from public schools.

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Governor Lawal expressed his pride in the students’ accomplishments, congratulating both the students and their parents. He emphasised that their outstanding performances were a clear reflection of his administration’s ongoing commitment to reforming the education sector.

“Your remarkable performance is evidence that our declaration of a state of emergency in education was the right move,” the governor remarked. “In the past, Zamfara consistently ranked at the bottom in Nigeria’s education sector. This is why we declared an emergency last year.”

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Governor Lawal outlined his administration’s efforts to improve education in the state, including the renovation of over 300 fully equipped schools across all 14 Local Government Areas and the implementation of teacher training programmes to enhance the quality of public education.

Recalling his own experience attending public schools, Lawal shared, “I was the only one in my family who attended LEA schools because I grew up with my grandparents in Katsina. After primary school,

“I went to Government Secondary School, Kachia, while my siblings attended elite institutions like Kings College and Federal Government College. We are determined to restore the quality of public schools.”

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The governor further announced, “I am offering full scholarships to all 30 gifted students. No parents will have to pay a single naira, as the scholarships will cover all expenses. This is just the beginning, and we will continue to support our students.”

Earlier, Alhaji Sarkin Pawa Malami, Chairman of the Muhammad Kabir Danbaba Centre for Women and Youth Development, provided an overview of the centre’s activities and offered suggestions for how the government could further support its initiatives.