Senator Sunday Katung of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, has awarded scholarships worth N40 million to 400 indigent students across his constituency.
The funds were distributed through the Sunday Marshall Katung Foundation, with each beneficiary receiving N100,000 to support their education in various tertiary institutions.
Speaking at the scholarship presentation held on Saturday in Kafanchan, Mr Katung, who was represented by Bature Likoro, chairman of the Southern Kaduna Community Development Associations, said the initiative was created to ease the financial burden of students and reduce hardship. He described education as “the most powerful tool for social change and human capital development,” pledging to sustain the scholarship programme beyond his tenure as a senator.
Gloria Ballason, chairperson of the foundation’s scholarship committee, revealed that 3,125 students applied for the scheme, but only 400 were selected after a rigorous and transparent screening process. She noted that the beneficiaries were chosen based on their economic backgrounds and academic performance. “It is our hope that this support will make the difference between staying in school and dropping out,” Ms Ballason said.
The secretary of the committee, Edward Auta, called on government and private individuals to invest more in education to create equal learning opportunities. He also urged the beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly.
Delivering a lecture on “Mainstreaming STEM Education for National Development,” John La’ah highlighted that Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are key to innovation and sustainable growth. “In recent development, scientists have agreed that STEM is going to be the game changer, and it is important for us to know this,” he said.
Two beneficiaries, Zingina Precious and Omega Enoch, expressed gratitude, describing the scholarship as a lifeline that arrived at a critical time. They thanked Mr Katung for his continued support to students and less-privileged constituents.