Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has awarded full scholarships to 30 gifted students from the state. These students are currently enrolled at the Federal Government Academy in Suleja, known for nurturing gifted learners.
The governor made this announcement at a special event held at the Government House in Zamfara, where he hosted the students and the leadership of the Muhammad Danbaba Centre for Women and Youth Development. According to a statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, the Centre played a significant role in helping Zamfara achieve its recognition as the top-performing northern state in the National Examination Council (NECO) entrance exams for gifted students. Impressively, many of the top-performing students came from public schools in the state.
In his speech, Governor Lawal expressed his pride in the students’ achievements and congratulated both the students and their parents. He mentioned that their performance was a clear indication that the state’s focus on improving education, through the declaration of an “education emergency,” was bearing fruit.
“In the past, Zamfara ranked consistently at the bottom in terms of educational performance in Nigeria,” Governor Lawal said. “This is why last year I declared a state of emergency in the education sector.”
The governor also highlighted the efforts of his administration to improve the state’s education system, which include the renovation of over 300 schools across the state’s 14 local government areas. Additionally, he noted that the government had introduced training programs to improve the quality of teaching in public schools.
Lawal shared his personal experiences of attending public schools, explaining that he was the only one in his family to have done so. He recounted his time at LEA schools in Katsina and Government Secondary School, Kachia, while his siblings attended more prestigious institutions like King’s College and Federal Government College.
“We are on a mission to revive the quality of public schools in Zamfara,” the governor stated, reaffirming his commitment to education reform.
Governor Lawal also announced that the scholarships offered to the 30 gifted students would cover all their expenses, ensuring that no parent would have to bear any financial burden. “This is just the beginning,” he said, promising that the government would continue to provide similar support to more students in the future.
Earlier in the event, the chairman of the Muhammad Danbaba Centre for Women and Youth Development, Sarkin Malami, briefed the governor on the Centre’s activities and offered suggestions on how the government could further enhance its programs.
The governor’s scholarship initiative and his broader efforts to improve education in Zamfara are part of an ongoing campaign to elevate the state’s academic standing and ensure that students, regardless of their background, have access to quality education.
This scholarship program is seen as a crucial step toward rebuilding the education sector in Zamfara, which had been struggling in recent years. Governor Lawal’s administration hopes that by investing in the education of the state’s youth, Zamfara will produce future leaders and professionals who can drive positive change in the region.
