KANO – Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has brought decisive relief by paying ₦2.24 billion. This sum clears all overdue tuition and accommodation fees for 84 Kano students in Cyprus. These students endured years of uncertainty in Northern Cyprus. The Governor’s intervention officially ends their prolonged ordeal. Funding for their overseas scholarship program had been cut by the previous administration.
Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Governor’s Director General of Media and Publicity, confirmed this significant action. He announced the full ₦2.24 billion payment to the Near East University in Cyprus. This payment settles all outstanding debts. Crucially, it unlocks the students’ certificates. “A total of two billion, two hundred and forty million naira has been paid. This secures the certificates for students who waited over five long years,” the official statement detailed.
Relief After Years of Struggle
The foreign scholarship scheme was first introduced by former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. However, financial support for the Kano students in Cyprus halted under the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. This stoppage left students in a desperate situation without funds. Many were barred from classrooms. Others faced eviction from their hostels. They experienced immense hardship far from home. Kabiru Ibrahim, a father of an affected student, shared the depth of their suffering: “The trauma these students faced was unbearable. Some were harassed, ridiculed, and faced near deportation.”
Among the 84 beneficiaries are 28 medical students. The cohort also includes graduates in nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, various engineering fields, computer science, and biomedical sciences. Most had completed their studies but could not obtain their certificates due to the unpaid fees.
State Jobs Await Returning Graduates
Governor Yusuf extended further support. He ordered the automatic employment of all returning graduates into the Kano State civil service. “These young professionals are a vital asset to our state. We will not only welcome them home but also provide opportunities for them to contribute to our development,” Governor Yusuf affirmed in a statement.
This comprehensive solution has sparked widespread celebration across Kano State. Many parents openly wept with joy, describing the news as the “end of a nightmare.” Fatima Suleiman, the mother of a medical graduate, expressed her profound relief: “This is the happiest day of my life. I can finally hold my son’s certificate and see him begin his career.” Human rights organizations and Nigerian diaspora members, who had previously criticized the students’ neglect, have praised the administration’s decisive and compassionate action. Musa Lawan, a coordinator for a Nigerian student welfare group in Europe, lauded the move: “This is a clear example of leadership with empathy. These are lives restored, careers revived, and reputations redeemed.”
By Kayode Ojo
