A former Zamfara State governor and senator representing Zamfara West senatorial district, Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, has given scholarships to 1,700 indigenes to study various courses in Nigerian universities.
The chairman of the committee of A.A Yari Scholarship initiative, Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura, told journalists at a press conference that the gesture was initiated as part of his effort to uplift the standard of education in the state.
He said under the arrangement, the programme would screen qualified applicants from poor families whose parents could not sponsor their children to the tertiary institution level.
Kaura said the scholarship awards would go to all beneficiaries across the state irrespective of differences in religion or political party.
According to him, the A.A Yari Scholarship initiative committee has concluded an arrangement to kick off the distribution of forms to beneficiaries under the coordinating committee of each of the 14 local government areas of the state.
He explained that under the arrangement, out of the 1,700 students set to benefit from the programme, 100 slots will go to each of the eight local government areas comprising Zamfara North and Zamfara Central, while the remaining slots will be shared among the six local government areas of Zamfara West, where the senator comes from.
Kauran said qualified students who the universities admitted would be fully paid their tuition and accommodations and also given monthly stipends until the end of their studies.
He said very soon, the committee would swing into action and announce the time when the students would be asked to apply and submit their results for screening.