The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) branch, has awarded scholarships to seven indigent students of the institution to support their academic pursuits.
Speaking during the presentation of the scholarships on Tuesday, the chairperson of ASUU-ATBU, Dr. Angulu Haruna, said the initiative reflects the union’s sensitivity to the economic challenges facing many students striving for academic excellence.
According to him, two of the scholarships were awarded by the national leadership of ASUU, while the ATBU branch sponsored additional five, making it part of the Union’s annual intervention to support access to education for disadvantaged students.
The beneficiaries include Tahir Suleiman of Petroleum Engineering Department and Christiana Thomas Haruna of Industrial Design who received N200,000 each from the national body of the union.
Five additional beneficiaries supported by the ATBU branch include Musfaru Usman Abdulkarim of Civil Engineering department, Rahmatu Ahmad Musa, Environmental Management Technology; Abdulaziz Isah, Statistics; Ayuba Abdulhamid, Computer Science; and Hassan Nenchi Elisha, Construction Technology Education.
The five students also received the sum of N100,000 each, to help cover school fees.
The Convener of the scholarship selection committee, Professor Usman Aliyu Jalam, explained that a minimum 3.0 CGPA and proven financial need were key criteria for selecting the beneficiaries.
“We worked closely with programme coordinators and heads of department who identified eligible students, followed by our own background checks,” he said.
Also, the ASUU-ATBU chairperson, Dr. Haruna called on the government to offer education grants rather than student loans, arguing that many graduates would still struggle to repay loans after school.
“Developed countries that adopted student loan schemes later realised they were counterproductive. We’ve consistently maintained that Nigerian students need grants, not loans,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Christiana Thomas Haruna expressed deep gratitude to the Union for its timely intervention.
“Many of us were on the verge of dropping out. This scholarship has given us a second chance. We are thankful and promise to stay committed to our studies and make you proud,” she assured.
