The Kano State Government has revealed plans to recruit newly graduated postgraduate scholars into the state civil service to fill existing vacancies and address manpower deficits in critical sectors in order to accelerate overall development in the state.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf gave the assurance while presenting academic certificates to 110 indigenes who have just completed their postgraduate degrees under the state’s Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme.

The 110 foreign-trained postgraduate scholars, who specialized in engineering, pharmacy, sciences, ICT, and advanced technology, were part of the 1,001 beneficiaries of the foreign education programme sent to India, Uganda, and Malaysia to pursue their postgraduate degrees.

Receiving the scholars at the Government House on Tuesday after their successful academic sojourn abroad, Governor Yusuf expressed satisfaction that his administration’s investment in human capital development is yielding tangible results.

He maintained that the priority placed on foreign and local postgraduate scholarships is intended to stimulate accelerated growth in several sectors of the economy currently facing manpower deficits.

Yusuf posited that he is delighted the beneficiaries had been exposed to global perspectives and educational standards that would empower them to think differently, act boldly, and solve problems creatively in society.

According to the governor, “In line with our commitment to ensure that this investment translates into tangible benefits, I am pleased to inform you that the Kano State Government has concluded arrangements to absorb many of these graduates into the healthcare sector through the Hospitals Management Board.”

The governor recalled that his administration had earlier fulfilled its pledge to recruit 50 medical students who underwent a similar foreign postgraduate scholarship programme in Cyprus, and additional 63 postgraduate scholars who also completed their degrees in Indian universities.

He assured that the government is ready to recruit graduates from engineering and other related fields into the mainstream of the state civil service to further strengthen technical and infrastructural capacity.

Yusuf urged the fresh postgraduate graduates to apply the knowledge and skills gained during their studies abroad to solving problems, improving systems, and making life better for people in their communities.

“We are gathered here to celebrate 110 of our sons and daughters who left home and travelled to Sharda University in India some time ago with hope in their hearts and have now returned with knowledge, experience, and success,” the governor said.

Governor Yusuf congratulated the parents and families of the graduates for supporting and encouraging them toward this achievement and assured them that the programme would continue.

In their votes of thanks, one of the parents, Hajiya Zuwaira Sanusi, and two of the foreign scholars, Yusuf Muhammad and Hauwa Muhammad, expressed gratitude to the governor for positively transforming their lives.

They appealed the the government to sustain the scheme to enable opportunity for more children from poor families to benefit from the foreign scholarship programme.

While appreciating the governor’s scholarship initiative, the students presented a book they had written titled “A Journey of Gratitude and Discovery,” along with an award in recognition of his strides in educational development.

In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk, said Governor Yusuf was pleased with the book written in his honour and promised that the government would publish 2,000 copies for distribution to ministries, departments, agencies, and centres of learning.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, revealed that the current administration has resolved all outstanding payments relating to the foreign scholarship programme left by the previous administration.