Ex-lawmaker spends over N40m on 22 orphans in Jigawa
A former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Magaji Da’u Aliyu, has spent over N40 million as academic grant for 22 orphans in Jigawa State.
The beneficiaries drawn from Birninkudu and Buji local government areas of the state are studying health related courses at the ALU College of Health Science and Technology, Birnin Kudu.
According to the lawmaker, the intervention is to address the shortage of healthcare personnel in rural communities in the area.
The coordinator of the scholarship programme, Malam Haladu Maigari, said a male and female were selected from each ward in the two local goverment areas.
Maigari said Aliyu is solely responsible for the academic and welfare needs of all the students, adding that over ₦40 million was spent on registration and tuition for the students, “who were carefully screened and confirmed to be brilliant orphans from the constituency.”
He added that Aliyu, an All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain, funded the students’ education from admission to their current level, as they prepare to graduate.
“Just this week, he paid their outstanding national examination fees estimated at about ₦15 million. This is not a government project, he started and sustained it on his own,” he added.
The coordinator disclosed plans to sponsor another batch of beneficiaries, which may exceed the current number.
The programme is widely seen as a major boost to human capital development in the area, particularly in strengthening local healthcare system through the training of skilled personnel.
