Kebbi Approves N714m for Foreign Students’ Tuition, Upkeep – Nigeria News Today
By Abdullahi Tukur | Birnin Kebbi | The Bureau News
Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Nasir Idris, has approved the release of ₦714.98 million to cover tuition, upkeep, visa extension, and internship fees for indigent students studying in foreign universities.
The announcement, made during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi, underscores the administration’s renewed commitment to strengthening access to quality tertiary education, a development that is making headlines in Nigeria News Today.
Breakdown of the ₦714.98 Million Intervention
The Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Isah Abubakar-Tunga, explained that the funds were disbursed across multiple beneficiary groups:
- ₦349.73 million for 35 students proceeding to Ethiopia to study Medicine and Pharmacy.
- ₦177.35 million for 28 students studying at Subharti and GD Goenka Universities in India.
- ₦117.68 million as upkeep allowances for 25 students studying Medicine in seven Egyptian universities.
- ₦70.21 million for Pharmacy and Medical Allied Sciences students at Jaipur National and GD Goenka Universities in India.
According to the commissioner, all approvals were granted in January, bringing the ministry’s total financial commitment within the period to ₦714.98 million.
Education Reform Drive
Abubakar-Tunga described the intervention as part of Governor Idris’ broader strategy to reposition tertiary education in Kebbi State to meet global standards.
The state government, he said, remains focused on building a skilled workforce in critical sectors such as medicine, pharmacy, and allied health sciences.
This initiative aligns with ongoing education reforms across the country, a key area frequently monitored by The Bureau News in its coverage of national development policies.
New Appointment in Midwifery Education
The commissioner also announced the appointment of Dr. Muhammed Murtala Musa as the pioneer Provost of Kauran Gwandu College of Midwifery Sciences, Ambursa.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to sustaining the governor’s educational development agenda and expanding opportunities for Kebbi indigenes in both local and international institutions.
As education funding continues to shape policy discussions in Nigeria News Today, Kebbi’s intervention stands out as one of the most significant state-level foreign scholarship commitments recorded this year.
