Katsina Students Seek More Support for Education

Students in Katsina State have called on wealthy individuals, corporate organisations, serving government officials, and former public office holders to increase investment in education through scholarships and other forms of support for financially challenged students.

The appeal was made during a press conference organised by the Lado Danmarke Foundation (LDF), where the students also commended former Senator Yakubu Lado Danmarke for his sustained commitment to educational development through his scholarship scheme.

Speaking on behalf of the group, a student of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Saratu Lawal, said rising tuition fees, feeding costs, transportation expenses, and other academic-related charges have made access to education increasingly difficult for students from low-income families.

She described education as the foundation of societal development and urged wealthy individuals and organisations in the state to emulate the scholarship initiative of Senator Lado Danmarke in supporting students to achieve their academic goals.

According to the students, the Yakubu Lado Education Foundation, established in 2020, has provided scholarships to thousands of students across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in Nigeria.

They noted that beneficiaries include students in diploma, NCE, HND, undergraduate, postgraduate, and vocational programmes, adding that the initiative has enabled many indigent students to continue their studies despite economic hardship.

The students described the foundation as one of the largest privately funded educational support programmes in Katsina State and urged other philanthropists, business leaders, and organisations operating in the state to replicate similar interventions.

They also highlighted transportation challenges faced by students in institutions such as Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Federal College of Education Katsina, Al-Qalam University, and Federal University Dutsin-Ma, calling for targeted assistance to ease their burden.

The group stressed that increased investment in education remains essential to ensuring that children from less privileged backgrounds can access quality learning and contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and the country.