Governor to sponsor 1,002 more students for overseas studies
The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for its youth, with plans to sponsor an additional 1,002 students for overseas studies, following the successful sponsorship of 1,001 students last year.
This was revealed by the state Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, during a courtesy visit by the European Union Delegation ahead of the 2025 Study in Europe Fair in Kano.
In a statement on Thursday by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, the Deputy governor described the initiative as a “bridge for creating a future where the youth of Kano could access world-class education and participate fully in the global knowledge economy.”
He further highlighted that the Kano state Government has prioritised education, as reflected in the highest budgetary allocation to the sector in Nigeria for 2024 and 2025.
“Additionally, the government has declared a state of emergency in education to ensure young people receive quality education that equips them with skills to compete in the modern world.
Gwarzo, while expressing appreciation to the EU for its continued support and collaboration, recognized the Study in Europe Fair as a testament to the commitment of international partners to the development of Nigeria’s educational system.
“As a state that has long been a centre of trade, culture, and education, Kano stands to gain immensely from international collaborations such as this. We look forward to a successful event that will empower our youth, enhance educational exchange, and contribute to the overall economic and social development of Kano, Nigeria, and West Africa,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, as well as the leader of the delegation, Gautier Mignot, stated that they are in Kano primarily for the study in Europe Fair, scheduled for February 27, 2025.
Accompanied by several representatives from EU member states, he noted that the event had been organised in the past in Kano, bringing European higher education institutions to engage with academic scholars and students, providing them with information on study programs and opportunities in Europe.
According to him, the expectation is to establish new contacts, partnerships, friendships, and student exchanges, with scholars travelling to Europe and, hopefully, some European scholars coming to Kano as well.
He said that 20 university representatives were present in Kano for the event, many of whom were visiting for the first time. He emphasized that the initiative aimed to promote people-to-people connections and strengthen educational collaboration between Europe and Kano.
Other members of the delegation include: Amb. Michal Cygan of the Polish Embassy to Nigeria, Jurgew Bartelink – Deputy Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria, Leila Ben Mathieu – Head of Human Development, European Union Delegation to Nigeria and Kristof Korosi – Deputy Ambassador of Hungary to Nigeria.
