Barau Foundation denies owing FUDMA scholarship beneficiaries
Kola Oyelere Kano
The Barau I. Jibrin Foundation has denied reports alleging that it owes tuition fees or allowances to Kano students benefiting from its scholarship programme at the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State.
The foundation, established by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, described the reports as false, misleading and mischievous, insisting that all financial obligations arising from the scholarship programme had been settled.
In a statement issued signed by the Senior Special Adviser to the Deputy Senate President on Media, Ismail Mudashir, the foundation said the reports were aimed at undermining a programme that had provided educational opportunities for indigent students.
“The report is false and misleading and is the handiwork of mischief makers who are unhappy with a programme that has provided educational opportunities to 810 indigent students,” the statement said.
The foundation explained that Senator Barau, through the organisation, awarded scholarships to 810 indigent students to pursue degree programmes through six FUDMA study centres located in Kano North Senatorial District.
According to the statement, when FUDMA invited the beneficiaries to its main campus in Dutsin-Ma in June for a four-week basic training on distance learning, the foundation provided each student with a one-off allowance of N50,000.
It added that the beneficiaries were also transported to the university’s main campus for the training.
The foundation stressed that there was no promise of a monthly N50,000 stipend, clarifying that the payment was specifically intended to support the students during the four-week training.
“Specifically, the scholarship programme covers the payment of registration fees for all beneficiaries from Level One through to the completion of their respective programmes,” the statement added.
The foundation urged the beneficiaries to remain focused on their studies and disregard what it described as malicious publications intended to distract them.
It reaffirmed its commitment to supporting indigent students and expanding access to quality education in Kano North Senatorial District and beyond.
Earlier, Senator Barau had announced a scholarship programme for Kano undergraduates studying various courses through FUDMA study centres.
At the scholarship award ceremony held at Bayero University, Kano, Senator Kawu Sumaila, who represented Barau, distributed scholarship letters to beneficiaries and pledged N20,000 each to 1,000 students to assist with transportation costs, amounting to N20 million.
Sumaila urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity by working hard and excelling in their various disciplines.
The scholarship scheme, according to the organisers, was designed to promote academic excellence and provide educational opportunities to deserving students from Kano State.
The foundation also disclosed that 70 students were sponsored last year to pursue postgraduate studies abroad in fields including Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Forensic Sciences.
In addition, 300 students have been selected for postgraduate studies at six Nigerian universities: Bayero University, Kano; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Ibadan; University of Lagos; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The foundation said the matriculation ceremony for the Kano beneficiaries would be held on September 22 at the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State.