Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has announced full scholarships for 30 exceptionally gifted students to attend the prestigious Federal Government Academy Suleja.
This significant development was revealed during an event at the Government House, where the Governor hosted the talented students alongside the leadership of the Muhammad Kabir Danbaba Centre for Women and Youth Development.
A statement released on Thursday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, highlighted the pivotal role played by the Muhammad Kabir Danbaba Centre in propelling Zamfara State to the forefront of educational performance among Northern states, particularly in the National Examination Council (NECO) entrance exams for gifted students.
Notably, many of the top-performing students hailed from public schools, showcasing the potential within the state’s educational system.
In his address, Governor Lawal extended his heartfelt congratulations to the students and their families for their outstanding achievements, emphasizing, “Your remarkable performance was a positive indication that our administration’s declaration of emergency was not in vain.”
Reflecting on the challenges faced by the state’s education sector, the Governor noted, “In the past, Zamfara was consistently at the bottom regarding education in Nigeria. This is why I declared a state of emergency in the educational sector last year.”
He elaborated on the ongoing renovations of over 300 fully equipped schools across all 14 Local Government Areas, alongside initiatives to train teachers and enhance the quality of public school education.
Drawing from his personal experience, Lawal shared, “I want to share my experience of attending public schools. 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 attended Government Secondary School, Kachia while all my siblings attended Kings College or Federal Government College. So, we are on a mission to revive that quality of the public schools.”
In a moment of pride and commitment, the Governor announced, “I would like to announce that I am offering a full scholarship for all 30 gifted students. No parents will have to pay anything as the scholarship will cover all expenses. This is just the beginning, as we plan to continue offering this support to all our students.”
Earlier in the event, Alhaji Sarkin Pawa Malami, Chairman of the Muhammad Kabir Danbaba Centre for Women and Youth Development, outlined the center’s activities and proposed strategies for enhancing governmental support for its operations, underscoring the collective effort towards a brighter educational future in Zamfara.