Katsina Approves Scholarship For 1,700 Students

The Katsina State Executive Council has approved a number of strategic policies and projects aimed at strengthening education, improving governance and advancing climate action across the state.

The approvals were granted during the Council’s fifth regular meeting for 2026 held at the Red Chamber of the General Muhammadu Buhari House, and presided over by the Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Umaru Radda.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Katsina State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Yusuf Suleiman Jibia, said the council approved a scholarship programme for 1,700 students across the state

According to him, the beneficiaries will be the top 50 students from each of the state’s 34 local government areas who excelled in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO) Examination.

Jibia explained that the scholarship will enable the students to study courses such as Nursing and Health Sciences, Engineering and ICT, Agricultural Sciences, and Education in state-owned institutions including Colleges of Education, Colleges of Health Sciences and polytechnics.

“This approval is aimed at assisting talented and hardworking students from across the 34 local government areas to access higher education in our state-owned institutions and contribute meaningfully to the development of Katsina State,” he said.

The council also approved the procurement of 3,000 electric motorcycles to be distributed at subsidized rates to teachers posted to hard-to-reach rural communities across the state.

Jibia said the initiative is designed to address transportation challenges faced by teachers working in remote areas, improve punctuality and strengthen service delivery in schools.

“This gesture is aimed at supporting our teachers who make sacrifices to serve in difficult terrains. By easing their mobility challenges, we expect improved punctuality, stronger commitment and better learning outcomes for students,” he added.

In another development, the Special Adviser on Health Institutions, Umar Mammada, announced that the council approved the establishment of a Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre at the Katsina State College of Nursing Sciences.

He said the centre would provide a standard examination environment for students and reduce the need to rely on private CBT facilities outside the institution.

“The establishment of the CBT centre will provide a conducive and standardized examination environment for our students, reduce costs and enhance the overall academic experience within the institution,” he said.

The council also approved the implementation of the Katsina State Digital Mapping System, which will integrate development control, planning permits and land titling into a single digital platform to improve urban planning and land administration.

According to Jibia, the system will strengthen transparency, accelerate planning approvals and ensure proper land documentation across the state.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser on Climate Change, Al‑Amin Mohammed, disclosed that the council adopted the Katsina State Climate Change Policy and Plan of Action (2025–2030) as the official framework for climate governance in the state.

He explained that the policy will integrate climate-responsive budgeting and monitoring indicators across Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure accountability and track environmental performance.

The council noted that the decisions taken during the meeting align with Governor Radda’s vision of improving education, promoting digital governance, strengthening environmental sustainability and enhancing service delivery for residents of Katsina State.