Former Kano State governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has recounted his personal sacrifice in selling properties to fund the education of 370 young men and women from Kano State to study abroad. He made these remarks during the Maiden Annual Convention of the Kwankwasiyya Scholarship Programme held in Kano.
Kwankwaso described education as the most enduring legacy a leader can leave to society. He expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to witness what he called “a very historic day for Kano State and Nigeria,” as the convention brought together scholars sponsored over nearly 25 years.
Reflecting on the journey, Kwankwaso said, “I remember many of you when you were very young. Some of you looked like you came straight from the villages. Today, I see confidence, professionalism and even grey hair,” a statement that drew applause from attendees.
Following the discontinuation of government sponsorship of foreign students after the 2019 general elections, Kwankwaso revealed that he personally sustained the scholarship programme through the Kwankwasiyya Development Foundation (KDF). “I realised I had properties I no longer needed, in Lagos, Kaduna, Sokoto, Adamawa and other places. I sold them and used the proceeds to sponsor 370 young men and women from Kano State to study abroad,” he disclosed.
The Kwankwasiyya Scholarship Programme has supported over 3,000 students within four years to study across 14 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The initiative has produced a wide range of professionals including doctors, engineers, pilots, pharmacists, architects, economists, lawyers, public policy experts, and development practitioners.
Records from the Kwankwasiyya Scholars Assembly indicate that the programme has produced hundreds of medical doctors and specialists serving in teaching hospitals both in Nigeria and abroad, scores of aviation professionals, thousands of engineers and ICT experts, and over 300 PhD holders unveiled at the convention.
Kwankwaso emphasized that the foundation’s mission extends beyond sponsorship to mentoring, tracking, and integrating scholars into public service, governance, and national development. “That is why we decided to engage you politically at ward, local government, state, zonal and, by the grace of God, national levels, for those who are interested,” he said.
He cautioned against elitism, stressing that higher education should not alienate scholars from grassroots service. “It is not fair for someone with a PhD or Master’s degree to feel too big to serve at the ward level,” he warned.
Looking ahead, Kwankwaso expressed hope to see the emergence of a Scholar-Governor and eventually a Scholar-President. He also commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for appointing many scholars as commissioners, advisers, and senior aides, and prayed to witness a beneficiary of the programme govern Kano State and even Nigeria in the future.
Leave a comment