By Abdallah el-Kurebe
About 7,000 Sokoto indigenes studying in various tertiary institutions across the country have commended governor Aliyu Wamakko for releasing the sum of N300 million as refunds for their registration fees and allowances.
A spokesman of the students and the President of Sokoto State Students Association, Kaduna Polytechnic chapter, Bello Abdul-Aziz told news men in Sokoto on Sunday that the gesture had alleviated their problems as well as encouraged them to face their studies squarely.
“Most of us are indigent and it is too difficult for us to study without such financial support from the state government. This has really motivated us to be diligent and focused in order to justify the confidence reposed in us by our parents, the state government and the people of the state,” he said.
He promised that the students would continue to be law-abiding and disciplined, advising students. In the state to steer clear from partisan politics but participate in the nation’s electoral processes in line with the provisions of the constitution.
“This can be legally done by collecting our voters’ cards and casting our votes for the candidates of our choices during the elections,” Abdul-Aziz, added.
He explained that the only recognized umbrella students organizations in the state are the Sokoto State Students’ Association and the Federated Organizations of Sokoto State Students Associations.
The students are studying in Bayero University, Kano (BUK); Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU); Federal University of Technology, Minnna (FUT); The Polytechnic of Sokoto State, Special schools and the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto (SSCOE), among others.
…Unemployed Youths Get Wheelbarrows, Carts
In its drive to complement the efforts of government in fighting unemployment in Sokoto state, a non-governmental organization, Magatakarda Wamakko Foundation has donated 400 carts and 200 wheelbarrows worth N25 million to some unemployed youths drawn from the 23 local governments of the state.
At a brief ceremony, the State Coordinator of the Foundation, Alhaji Abubakar Yabo said that the gesture was aimed at alleviating the suffering of indigent youths in the state.
Explaining that the aim was to complement the efforts of government in reducing poverty and unemployment and the attendant negative consequences, Yabo added that “the gesture is to empower the youths to be self-reliant and productive for them to be useful to themselves and the society.”
He also said that the Foundation’s main source of funds was personal donations from Governor Aliyu Wamakko and other well meaning indigenes of the state.
At the ceremony, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal donated one trailer each of rice and millet to the Foundation by distribution to indigent persons in the state.
In the same vein, Sen. Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir, who represents Sokoto East senatorial district donated the sum of N1 million to the Foundation.
“All these efforts are aimed to further alleviate the suffering of the people and complement the efforts of the government,” Yabo said.
