Kano, French govt offer scholarship to 32 indigenous science lecturers

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Kano State Government in collaboration with French Government has sponsored no fewer than thirty two indigenous lecturers in science-based courses from the state owned higher institutions for postgraduate studies in France from 2016 to date.
This was revealed in a statement yesterday, by Abba Anwar, Chief Press Secretary to governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of the state.
Anwar said the programme started in 2016 when governor Ganduje entered into agreement with the French government to sponsor the indigenes of the state to further their study in France.
He said the programme started with the sponsorship of 11 lecturers from Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Yusuf Maitama Sule University and Kano State Polytechnic, to study in different science-based programmes in prestigious French universities.
Anwar added that another set of 11 were sent in the second batch of 2017, which also included lecturers from Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso, College of Education and Preliminary, Kano, Audu Bako College of Agriculture and College of Arts, Sciences and Preliminary Studies, Tudunwada.
“In the year 2018, 10 lecturers were sent who also came from across other state owned tertiary institutions. All put together, the state has 32 lecturers who were carefully selected from the state owned universities and other institutions of higher learning,” Anwar said in the statement.
The CPS explained that the programme is being coordinated under the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, on Higher Education, Dr Jarma.
He added that, according to the agreement, French government pays tuition fees and health insurance expenses, while the state government takes care of students upkeep and travelling allowances.
“It is a bilateral scholarship scheme with well-defined responsibilities for the two parties that is Kano state government and French government.
“Some of the students completed their second degree programmes. And some of them have been enrolled for PhD programmes. This is a welcome development for the state education system.
“The fourth batch is on its way for 2019. Where lecturers will also be selectively picked from these tertiary institutions of the state owned. Our wish is to, in the next 10 years, have higher institutions that could compete with any similar institutions at the global level.
“It is centrally believe that, after completing their programmes they will be back to Kano to share the experiences and skills acquired to re-brand the teaching methods of their students,” said the statement.