The Yobe State Government has announced the graduation of 167 students who were sponsored to study in Indian universities through a state-funded scholarship programme.
Governor Mai Mala Buni, through his Director-General of Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed, stated that the graduates would make major contributions to boosting the state’s health and other critical sectors.
The scholarship initiative, which began in 2020, was part of the Buni administration’s commitment to improve the abilities of Yobe’s youngsters in specialised subjects.
A total of 233 students were sent to various Indian universities to study medical laboratory science, pharmacy, radiology, physiotherapy, optometry, computer science, or engineering.
During the graduation ceremony, held in five different Indian universities, the governor—represented by the Speaker of the Yobe House of Assembly, Buba Mashio—commended the students for their hard work and success.
“A total of 63 students were sponsored to GD Goenka University, with 58 graduating, while the remaining five are still completing their studies. Of the 84 students sent to Integral University, 73 have graduated, with 11 still in progress,” Mohammed stated.
The statement also pointed out that 22 students at Kalinga University have all completed their programmes, as well as one student at PP Savani University.
The statement also mentioned that 24 other students are pursuing their education at the same institution. Currently, 10 state-sponsored students attend DIT University, 13 at VGU University, and another 13 at Glocal University.
The governor’s aide described the program’s impact, adding that the number of optometrists and chemists trained and funded by the state in the last four years has surged by more than 400 per cent when compared to numbers from the state’s creation in 1991.
Governor Buni congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to be diligent in their professional responsibilities wherever they are employed.
The Nigerian High Commission in India has lauded the Yobe scholarship programme for its excellent impact on the state’s development.