Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has commended President Bola Tinubu over the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, saying the scheme is helping to widen access to higher education.
Yusuf spoke on Saturday at the 2nd and 3rd combined convocation of Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano State.
A total of 1,104 students graduated from various academic programmes at the ceremony, according to the university’s organisers.
The governor said NELFUND would give students and their parents greater opportunities to finance tertiary education and reduce financial barriers.
“May I also use this opportunity to extend our profound appreciation to the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for its immense support to the education sector,” Yusuf said.
He described NELFUND as “a significant step towards expanding access to higher education”.
The Federal Government’s student-loan initiative is designed to provide interest-free loans for eligible higher education students and reduce financial barriers to tertiary education.
Yusuf urged the graduands to put their knowledge and skills to productive use.
He also challenged them to embrace innovation, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning.
The governor further urged the graduates to uphold discipline and integrity while contributing to the development of their communities and the country.
Yusuf commended the university’s management and staff for contributing to the expansion of higher education in Kano State.
He said investment in education remained an investment in the future of Kano and Nigeria.
University targets rural-urban migration
The proprietor of Al-Istiqama University and Senator representing Kano South, Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, said the institution was deliberately established in a rural area to tackle migration to urban centres in search of education and opportunities.
He said the decision was aimed at bringing quality higher education closer to young people in rural communities.
“By bringing a university of international standards directly to this rural area, we are reversing that trend,” Sumaila said.
He said the institution would empower local youths, boost the rural economy and create an environment where young people could acquire education without leaving their communities.
“We are empowering local youth, boosting the rural economy, and creating a sustainable ecosystem where knowledge is strong at home,” he added.
Sumaila said the university had grown from a mission to expand access to quality higher education into an institution focused on academic excellence and character development.
The convocation marked a major milestone for the institution as it continues to provide university education outside Kano metropolis.
The university’s rural location is central to its stated objective of reducing the pressure created by rural-to-urban migration while bringing tertiary education closer to underserved communities.
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