Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda has flagged off the disbursement of 2024/2025 bursary and scholarship awards, describing such schemes as critical tools for supporting students and driving long term educational development. He spoke at the Katsina State Scholarship Board, calling the exercise another milestone in his administration’s push to expand access to education.
Radda reaffirmed that his government sees education as a cornerstone of sustainable growth and human capital development. He said bursary, scholarship and award programmes are designed to ease financial pressure on students and their families while promoting academic excellence across the state.
Chairperson of the Scholarship Board, Hajiya Mairo Muhammad, thanked the governor for sustained backing, saying the programme clearly reflects his commitment to building the future through inclusive, quality education. Executive Secretary Dr Aminu Salisu Tsauri outlined interventions covering bursary allowances, special needs scholarships, excellence awards and other targeted support for learners at different levels.
Commissioner for Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, Adanan Nahabu Daura, praised the board’s transparent, people centred approach. He urged beneficiaries to justify government investment by focusing on their studies and contributing positively to society.
The governor had earlier approved ₦677,572,815 for 2024/2025 bursary allowances, academic excellence awards and special needs scholarships for Katsina students in tertiary institutions nationwide, including ₦283,521,639 for newly admitted students. Previous disbursements include ₦637,924,516 for 47,935 students in the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 sessions, ₦544,207,748 for 37,802 students in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, ₦744,102,352 for 50,438 students in 2022/2023 and 2023/2024, and ₦372,051,176 for 2024/2025 continuing students.
With the latest approvals, Katsina’s total investment in student support has reached about ₦2.6bn, benefiting tens of thousands of learners. Radda said the interventions align with his Building Your Future Agenda, which places human capital development at the centre of governance.
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