By Uzair Adam Imam
Rufai Sani Hanga, the Kano Central senator, pledged to provide scholarships for students to study abroad.
The senator said the scholarship for the 200 students of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), which he paid recently, was just one of the many opportunities awaiting not only students but all women and youth in his constituency.
He added that he would try hard to ensure more investment in education and empowerment for women and youth for the betterment of society.
Hanga disclosed this Wednesday at an event that converged the 200 sponsored students of BUK in his office in Tokarawa, Hadejia Road, Kano, to receive their awarding letters.
It can be recalled that Senator Hanga had paid the registration fees of 200 BUK students as a response to the painful outcry by the students as a result of a hike in the registration fee.
I responded to the painful outcry of students – Hanga
Senator Hanga said his sponsorship of the 200 BUK students was a response to the uproar generated by the increment in registration fees by the university management.
He said he came to the rescue of the students due to a call by Malam Aisar Fagge, Malam Salihu Sule Khalid, Malam Abubakar Tijjani Ibrahim and Alhaji Musa Nuhu Yankaba.
“This (scholarship) is in response to the outcry generated by the registration fee increment in Bayero University, Kano, which threatens the progress of many students in the university.
He added, “Malam Aisar, Abubakar, Salihu and Alhaji Musa were the ones who called me and advised that I should come to the aid of these students. I really commend them and the other members of my scholarship committee.
“While I consider this a quick intervention, I want to stress that more programs that target the upliftment and empowerment of our people are on the pipeline, in sha Allah,” he added.
Hanga commended the scholarship committee, adding, “I wish to advise the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity.”
We tasked ourselves for this rescue mission considering the unfavourable economic situation in Nigeria
Malam Aisar who is also a lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Kano State Polytechnic said they were into this rescue mission because of the unfavourable economic situation in the country and understood many students could not afford to pay for their school fees.
He said, “I have been in the teaching profession and know very well how students struggle to pay 20 or 30 thousand naira as their registration fee.
“Some students mostly go to radio stations to beg people. So, given that now there was an increment in registration fees, I feared many would have no other option than to drop their studies.”
It gladdened me when my mother thanked me for selfless service to humanity – Aisar
The communication scholar also added that it excited him and nearly reduced him to tears when his mother called to thank him for his selfless service to humanity.
“Although I was very excited looking at the happy faces of these promising students, there was nothing more exciting than the moment when my mother called to thank me.
“My mother, Hajiya, was in a tricycle when she heard the other two passengers talking about the matter, thanking Senator Hanga for rescuing their children.”
Students narrate tribulations, thank Hanga
“I reckoned without a hike in the registration fee. When I heard about it, my mind was awfully heavy as I knew I couldn’t afford it,” recalled a 400-level student of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), with a beaming smile on his face.
The student said a new hope had been rekindled in him by the scholarship he got from Senator Rufai Sani Hanga.
Another student, Abdurrahman Kabir Yunus, said the news of the hike in registration fees paralysed him.
He said, “But Senator Hanga wiped up my tears. And what he did was a lesson to me as I really feel indebted.”
Sham’una Rabi’u from Warawa Local Government said it was underestimating to describe how happy he was.
Rabi’u said, “I am very happy to be one of the beneficiaries of this scholarship. I couldn’t thank Senator Hanga enough.”