Senator Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central Senatorial District, has awarded a N300 million scholarship to 300 indigent but academically outstanding students from the district. The announcement was made in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, where the Senator explained that the initiative is an improvement on last year’s programme, during which he facilitated N200 million worth of scholarships for students in the area. He said the goal is to reduce illiteracy and strengthen the capacity of young people in Western Education.
Mustapha noted that investing in human development will remain one of his major legacies as a lawmaker, adding that an educated society is less likely to experience banditry and other forms of social menace affecting national peace. He said, “this initiative by me and to my knowledge is the first of its kind in the state. Some of my aims is to use it to break the financial barrier bedeviling our society and to promote smooth access to quality higher education among brilliant but less privileged children in my District and beyond.”
Speaking further, he explained that the annual programme has grown beyond the pilot phase. “The annual scholarship programme we launched last year with 200 beneficiaries, has now expanded its reach, under my unrelenting commitment to human capital development and youth empowerment,” he said.
The Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, Prof. Binta Sulyman, confirmed that tuition fees for all selected students would be paid immediately in line with the guidelines of their respective higher institutions. She stressed that the selection was strictly merit-based, stating that every beneficiary scored 250 and above in the JAMB UTME. She also highlighted that the scholars were drawn from the four LGAs of Kwara Central: Ilorin-West, Ilorin-East, Ilorin-South and Asa.
Prof. Sulyman said the scholarship will cover tuition fees from the first year to the final year of each student, but only for tertiary institutions located in Kwara State. She stated, “The goal is to create equal opportunities. These students have shown academic excellence, and we are determined to ensure that dearth of finances do not hinder their dreams.” She encouraged the beneficiaries to stay focused and justify the investment placed on their future.
The Secretary of the Committee, Comrade Yakub Ishowo, revealed that the beneficiaries are currently enrolled in institutions such as the University of Ilorin, Kwara State University in Malete, Kwara State University of Education in Ilorin, and the University of Offa. He added that a monitoring system has been set up to track the academic performance of each student throughout their studies.
Parents who attended the event praised Senator Mustapha for what they described as a life-changing intervention, saying it would significantly reduce their financial burden in the face of the global economic recession. Speaking on behalf of the parents, Sheikh Usman AbdulRahman Yasin said many families would not have been able to afford university tuition without this support. He said, “We pray for divine guidance and blessings upon Senator Mustapha for remembering the less privileged. This scholarship has brought relief to our homes.” He also applauded the merit-based process, noting that it encouraged hard work and renewed hope in the community.
Representing the beneficiaries, Amirah Suleiman and AbdulAzeem Muhammed expressed their gratitude to the Senator, promising to make the most of the opportunity and not disappoint their families or the district. They said the scholarship would greatly shape their future.
