By Our Correspondent A group of stakeholders in Katsina State has called on wealthy individuals, corporate organisations, servin...
By Our Correspondent
A group of stakeholders in Katsina State has called on wealthy individuals, corporate organisations, serving government officials and former public office holders to emulate the educational support initiative of former senator representing Funtua Senatorial District, Yakubu Lado Dan Marke.
The appeal was made during a press conference held in Katsina, where the stakeholders described education as the bedrock of societal development and stressed the need for increased private-sector participation in supporting students amid rising economic challenges.
According to the group, the high cost of tuition, academic materials, transportation and feeding has made access to higher education increasingly difficult for many students from less privileged backgrounds.
They commended Lado Dan Marke for establishing the Yakubu Lado Education Foundation, which they said has provided scholarships and financial assistance to thousands of students across tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Speaking on the impact of the initiative, the stakeholders noted that the foundation, which was formally registered in 2023, has supported students enrolled in Diploma, NCE, HND, Bachelor's, Master's and PhD programmes, including those in full-time, part-time, distance-learning and vocational training schemes.
They stated that beneficiaries of the programme are spread across several institutions, including Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; Bayero University Kano (BUK); Umaru Musa Yar’adua University Katsina (UMYUK); Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA); Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS); Kaduna Polytechnic (KADPOLY); and other higher institutions within and outside Katsina State.
The group disclosed that records available to them indicate that no fewer than 31,711 students have benefited from the scholarship scheme since its inception.
They further claimed that financial records showed that the foundation expended over N1.2 Billion on educational support programmes between 2023 and 2026.
Describing the initiative as one of the largest privately funded scholarship programmes in Katsina State, the stakeholders said the intervention has helped many students continue their education despite prevailing economic hardship.
“Educational support has become increasingly important as many families struggle to meet the financial demands of tertiary education. We believe more wealthy individuals and companies should invest in the future of our youth by supporting similar initiatives,” the group stated.
The stakeholders also drew attention to transportation challenges faced by students attending institutions such as Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Federal College of Education Katsina, Al-Qalam University and Federal University Dutsin-Ma, urging philanthropists and corporate organisations to assist in addressing the situation.
They maintained that expanding access to education through scholarships and other forms of support would contribute significantly to human capital development and economic growth in Katsina State and Nigeria at large.
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