Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima has presented a N5 million cheque to Israel Zakari Galadima, who scored 364 marks to come first in the 2018 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.
Borno state commissioner for Higher Education, Usman Jaha made the presentation at the office of the Registrar, Covenant University in Ota, Ogun State, where Galadima gained admission for Bachelors Degree in electronics engineering.
The presentation was witnessed by representatives of the student’s family, principal of his secondary school and some officials from the University and Borno’s liaison office in Lagos.
Shettima had Tuesday last week, invited Galadima and his mother, Jummai Galadima, a Lagos based banker at the Government House in Maiduguri to celebrate the student he nicknamed ‘JAMB King’.
The Governor who announced full scholarship for Galadima at Covenant University, was informed that she spends a total of N856,000 on the child’s education per academic session.
Excited by the boys performance, Shettima raised the figure to N1 million per academic year with the difference to serve as pocket money for Israel.
He also ordered the State Ministry for Higher Education present a cheque of N5 million as advanced payment for Israel’s fees.
Jaha advised Galadima’s family to pay substantial part of the N5 million to the University to cover student fees in advance of five years in line with the Governor’s position.
He also told Israel that Governor Shettima’s only request was for him to remain focused and graduate with first class degree.
The registrar, Covenant University, Dr Olumuyiwa Oludayo described Shettima’s passion for education as being “rare to find these days when another person could have simply issued a congratulatory message and stop at that”.
He commended the Governor for his ongoing efforts to transform education in Borno State and urged Galadima not to be carried away by his moments of glory but to rather aim for first class as Governor Shettima wishes for him.
Responding, Galadima said: “I am touched by the gesture of His Excellency, Governor Kashim Shettima and I know that sacrifices were made to support me. I want to tell the Governor and everyone here that by the grace of God, in years to come, I will give back to the people of my state, Borno. I will definitely do that by the grace of God. I didn’t expect the extent the Governor went and I appreciate it. I will really want to pay back to Borno State.”
Speaking on behalf of Israel’s family, Mrs Doris Yaro said she wasn’t surprised by Governor Shettima’s passion for education and support for excellence.
“Governor Kashim Shettima was a University lecturer. He is well educated, very sound and visionary. He is extremely passionate about education and those of us from Borno State know how he is completely changing existing schools, modernizing them and building many new schools. Words cannot describe how our family feels. We only pray that may God bless him and his family, our government and give us peace. Borno people are peaceful. We are not Boko Haram but victims of it. We are hard working people and there are many young boys and girls like Israel from Borno State and I know with what Governor Shettima is already doing in Borno, Nigerians should expect to harvest the brightest future leaders of this country from Borno State” Mrs Yaro said.
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