No fewer than 117 beneficiaries from northern Nigeria have departed for Algeria to pursue various academic programmes under a fully funded study scholarship facilitated by the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Foundation.
During a send-forth and orientation ceremony held in Bauchi, the Chairman of the Foundation, Sayyadi Aliyu, said the scholarship was secured through the Darika Tijjaniyya Islamic Sect in collaboration with the Algerian Government. According to him, “We were able to secure 140 slots, but only 117 met the complete requirements. The remaining ones will join them later.”
Aliyu explained that Bauchi State, being the host of the foundation, produced the highest number of beneficiaries, while others were selected from Gombe, Taraba, Yobe, and other northern states. He said that 50 of the slots were allocated for Medicine, while the rest were shared among other fields such as Computer Science, Engineering, and Islamic Studies.
He added that the fully funded international scholarship covers feeding, accommodation, healthcare, and other essential needs of the beneficiaries. Aliyu urged the students to remain law-abiding, disciplined, and focused during their stay in Algeria. “You must be good ambassadors of Nigeria and of those who facilitated this opportunity,” he said.
The foundation chairman also revealed that the students had been introduced to Arabic and French languages to help them adjust easily in their new environment. He emphasized that Islam promotes the pursuit of knowledge, saying, “Islam is a religion of knowledge, and whoever neglects to seek it is going against its teachings.” Aliyu further cautioned the students to avoid distractions and remain united in their mission to gain knowledge for the benefit of Islam and humanity.
In his remarks, the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu, advised the students to protect Nigeria’s image abroad and avoid any actions that could tarnish the country’s reputation. Expressing concern over negative reports involving Nigerians overseas, the Emir said, “The Nigerian flag has in many instances been blackened abroad, contrary to its true green-white-green identity. Green, as we know, is the colour associated with the house of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). You must uphold this symbol with dignity and commit yourselves to the pursuit of knowledge.”