By Amanabo Ocholi | Gusau
Over 2,000 indigent and orphaned students from Zamfara State have been awarded full academic scholarships under the Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari Scholarship Initiative, with beneficiaries spread across 19 tertiary institutions in the Northwest region of Nigeria.
At a press briefing held in Gusau, the Publicity Secretary of the Scholarship Committee, Alhaji Ibrahim Maigandi Danmalikin Gidan Goga, announced that 2,055 students are currently benefiting from the programme, which was launched in the 2024/2025 academic session.
N216 Million Spent So Far
According to Alhaji Danmalikin, the initiative has already disbursed ₦216 million covering registration and tuition fees for both public and private institutions. Among the benefitting schools are Al-Istiqama University in Kano and Northwest University in Sokoto, where dozens of Zamfara students have been enrolled.
He emphasized that the scholarship is a long-term commitment, with annual payments guaranteed for the full duration of each student’s academic programme—be it four, five, or six years, depending on their course of study.
“This is not a one-time gesture,” Danmalikin said. “Each beneficiary will receive yearly tuition payments until graduation. That includes those in medical programmes that span six years.”
Monthly Upkeep and Refunds Included
In addition to tuition, each student will receive a monthly stipend of ₦15,000 to help with basic living expenses. Payments of arrears dating back to January 2025 are expected to begin within the next two to three weeks.
The initiative also features a refund process for students whose parents had already paid their fees before the scholarship approval. “Such students can apply for a refund through their institutions, as funds have already been sent to the universities,” he added.
Transparent and Inclusive Process
The scholarship initiative is chaired by Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura and includes 14 committee members representing each Local Government Area of Zamfara, supported by 42 assistants (three per LGA) to ensure fairness and transparency in selection.
So far, the breakdown of beneficiaries includes:
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1,704 students in 16 public universities (federal and state-owned)
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50 students at Al-Istiqama University (private, Kano State)
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200 students at Northwest University (private, Sokoto State)
A comprehensive booklet listing all beneficiaries and their institutions was presented and will be published in three national newspapers to maintain full transparency.
A Vision to Lift Zamfara’s Youth
The initiative, launched last year by Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, who currently represents Zamfara West in the Senate, was created to provide educational access to underprivileged youths from all 14 LGAs in the state.
“The committee remains fully committed to tracking the progress of all beneficiaries, and will collaborate with institutions to monitor graduation, withdrawal, or default,” Danmalikin concluded.
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