Bauchi Govt Raises Scholarships By 50%

Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed has observed that due to prevailing economic challenges being faced by parents, his administration has not only restored but increased scholarships for indigenes of the state by 50 percent, with plans for further increments as the state’s resources improve.

He also said that it is the drive to facilitate students’ movement that his administration is embarking on a plan to provide Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles to offer free and subsidized transportation from schools to various strategic locations across the state to be distributed across higher institutions of learning.

Flagging-off the construction of a 2.6km access road at the main campus of Bauchi State University, Gadau (BASUG) yesterday, the governor said that his administration has also provided land and buildings to support the establishment of new institutions by the federal government in Azare and Jama’are.

“Despite these achievements, we recognise there is more work to be done. That is why we have established a Ministry of Higher Education and are planning an education summit. This summit will bring together experts from across the state and beyond to discuss critical issues, challenges and solutions to provide us with a roadmap for the future,” he stated.

He recalled that a state of emergency in the education sector declared by his administration will be focusing on modernising curriculum to instill a ‘Bauchi first’ consciousness and foster digital literacy.

According to him, the grand scheme envisions Bauchi State as a hub for education tourism, drawing from a rich pool of resources and partnership to produce a globally recognised educational system that would produce competent and knowledgeable manpower.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that when this road is completed, the main campus of the Bauchi State University, Gadau would wear a new look, feel the impact of good governance and provide a conducive environment for learning,” he added.

Governor Bala disclosed that the state government has engaged the services of a competent contractor, Messrs Habibu Engineering Nigeria Limited to execute the 2.6km project at the cost of N1.8 billion with stone base, Asphalt wearing course, storm water drainage and solar street lights.

“Our administration has embarked on an accelerated urban and rural life-touching projects, covering the three senatorial districts of the state to address the yearning and aspirations of our people who have suffered neglect by successive administrations,” he said.

Governor Bala who said that the state government adopted a holistic approach to reverse the trend of infrastructural deficit and decay in the state, also recalled his recent flagg-off of the dualisation of the 11km Ningi township road, in addition to granting approvals for the rehabilitation and construction of many other roads across the state.