From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Scholarship Board and Loan, Prof. Yahaya Saleh Ibrahim has told students of Kaduna State origin in various higher institutions across the country that he would resign his appointment if they proved him wanting in the discharge of his statutory duty at the Board to the detriment of the benefiting students.
Prof. Ibrahim said he believed in transparency and accountability, adding that all his life as a student unionist and civil society activist, he had never been found wanting in serving the people, “because I believe in making the society better than to enriching myself at the detriment of the society”.
The Executive Secretary spoke on Tuesday at stakeholders engagement meeting with Kaduna State students leaders and Kaduna State Scholarship Board which was held at the Kaduna State University.
The event was organised by the National Association of Kaduna State Students (NAKASS) in collaboration with Kaduna State Scholarship Board and Loans.
The Executive Secretary who was the chairman of the occasion, while declaring open the meeting, advised the students unionists to always tow the line of dialogue rather than confrontation.
According to him, “I want to tell you that unionism is about dialogue and not confrontation. Ask me any questions about your scholarship, and I will give you the best of answers. Ask me questions from head to toes and I will give you the answer. I will give you a soft landing answers that your issues will be resolved. If you have anything against me that I violated the tenets of Kaduna state scholarship Board and you have your facts, I swear to God, I will resign. If you have your facts, I will resign, I assure you. My door is open and I take responsibility as a leader”.
While responding to various questions asked by some of the students, Prof. Ibrahim said, ” I have heard all your questions. We will take tour of some schools outside Kaduna to take stock of Kaduna State indigenous students in those schools. As ad-hoc provost of KASU, I have done much for the school. Tax clearance has been removed for students to get scholarships. It is now automated. I will give you the best. KASU was allocated N89 million scholarship this session. You will be trained to master English even if you failed essay writing.
“I inherited a system that my signature has not been changed. I hope it will be done soon. I will visit any school that the students have not received scholarships since 2019. I was a unionist and a union person is a better person. You need to understand that what you do with unionism may make or mar you in your future life. So be careful. You should always be on the positive side to change the society for the better. To me scholarship is better than Bursary. No students, no scholarship.
“Don’t allow greed to override you, if you do that you are dwarfing your parents. We have expended N35 million at Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria. I have never seen a governor who is so kind to students. I have pledged myself before you that I will do my best for you. As unionists, try to be like late Gambo Sawaba, Fumilayo Kuti, Aminu Kano and so on”.
Former Executive Secretary of the Scholarship Board who is now the Special Adviser to governor Uba Sani on students matters, Hassan Rilwan also spoke, saying, “Our governor’s background has to do with activism and he has demonstrated that with appointment of Special Adviser on students matters. There are policies that are implemented to give the scholarship Board good direction. The aim of scholarship is to help our students graduate.
“During my time we paid medical students tuition fees directly to their respective schools, we paid N2.1 million per student. The essence of scholarships is to pay tuition fees, not students dues in the association. We don’t collect dues on behalf of NAKASS.
“As a Special Adviser on students matters, I will continue to have students interest at heart. And I urge you to continue to support the administration of governor Uba Sani. He has been able to reduce your tuition fees, and encouraged students sports activities in the State, amongst other things in favour of the students”.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, the President, NAKASS, Ezra Jonah advised the students to feel free to ask questions bordering on issues of scholarship as that was the essence of the meeting.
Jonah expressed gratitude to governor Uba Sani, saying, “Governor Uba Sani is a student friendly leader who has appointed Special Adviser on students matters in his administration. Whenever we cry, we believe that the Adviser will carry our cry to the governor. We will ever remain grateful to the governor. He has remained friendly to us since he was elected governor of Kaduna State. May God reward him abundantly”.
END.