Tambuwal’s scholarship scorecards, awards and others

The Silverbird Group, owners of Silverbird Television and Rhythm FM, on February 28, unveiled Sokoto State governor, Right Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, as its 2019 Man of the Year. Tambuwal was chosen for his administration’s outstanding performance in the provision of infrastructural and education development, following a keenly and transparent contest with other notable nominees through online voting pattern by Nigerians.

According to the organisers, the prestigious Silverbird Man of the Year award was instituted 14 years ago to recognise individuals who have impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians through their chosen careers. By this conferment, Governor Tambuwal is in the league of past winners of the prestigious award that include business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, the late Professor Dora Akunyili, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and another notable entrepreneur, Dr. Mike Adenuga, among other recipients.

For many, Governor Tambuwal’s leadership qualities are believed to be the motivational factor that earned him the deserved reward and many others in waiting. Permit me to further unveil these giant strides that have made it possible to celebrate Governor Tambuwal today.

Upon assumption of office as the sixth executive governor of Sokoto State, Tambuwal’s revolutionary imprints was first noticed in the state’s education sector which it first prioritised through the allocation of highest budgetary spending. The latest allocation of N47.8 billion to education, being 24 per cent of the budget of N202, 444, 458, 429.02 was a testimony.

To complement this, an Educational Trust Fund (ETF) was raised under the able care of His Eminence, Dr. Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, was launched. The scheme, which has been adjudged as first in history of the state, now allows a monthly contribution of token by individuals in a proportional form to develop the education sector.

But, as the saying goes, ‘the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step,’ the bold steps taken by Governor Tambuwal is now yielding positive results. One of such is the rapid reduction in rate of out of school children, as recognised and certified by the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF). At its stands today, Sokoto is the first state to initiate payment of conditional cash transfer to mothers of girls enrolled into primary one, in order to boost girl-child education.

The governor believes that uplifting the standard of education in the state cannot be done without factoring in parents of students aspiring for higher education.

In his wisdom, Tambuwal knows that the state scholarship board must also be prioritised. So far, it is undisputed that under Tambuwal’s watch, up to N7.5 billion has been expended judiciously on various scholarships.

As it stands today, the dream of indigenous students in studying abroad has never been dashed, as sponsorship of the state’s students obtains across board. So far, no fewer than 200 students of which 50 are females have been sponsored by the Tambuwal-led administration to study medicine and other para-medical courses in countries like India, Ghana, Sudan and Ukraine.

Meanwhile, there are also 168 students that have so far graduated and returned to the state to contribute their quotas in the health sector.

In addition, 400 students are currently studying various selected professional courses in 32 universities across the globe, courtesy of Tambuwal’s administration, while another 200 qualified students are waiting to be sponsored to China to study computer science, engineering and other technology related courses.

At home, a total number of 21,000 our indigenous students are studying in various universities, colleges and polytechnics among other higher institutions across the country whose tuition fees are being paid by Governor Tambuwal’s administration. The number of law graduates sponsored by his administration has increased to 148, while the numbers of state indigenes assisted to attend various scholarship interviews have risen to 366.

Other items on Tambuwal’s scholarship scorecard include 163 students sponsored at various private universities in Nigeria, 245 students with disabilities are enjoying various sponsorship programmes and 75 students were sponsored to read specialised courses at AFRIGIST, at Ile-Ife, Osun State, under the current administration.

On infrastructure, our indigenous contractors are today busying with various construction projects now ongoing across all sectors in Sokoto State. This is ranging from the construction of no fewer than 50 blocks of six classrooms in schools across the state under State Development Goal (SDG) and funded by the state. In addition, 500 blocks of six classrooms, administrative blocks and libraries in schools all over the state via the State Universal Basic Education Board/ Universal basic Education Commission (SUBEB/UBEC) counterpart funding have been completed.

Others are the completion of College of Midwifery Sciences, Tambuwal; College of Legal Studies, Wamakko; College of Agriculture, Wurno; construction of ultra-modern library at the state university, Sokoto; and construction of 60 office complexes in the state university, among others.

Since its inception, Tambuwal’s administration has never defaulted in the payment of accreditation fees of colleges and courses in various institutions and payment of the West African Examination Council/ National Examination Council of Nigeria (WAEC/NECO) examination fees.

Sokoto is among the few states in the federation which are still shouldering the purchase of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Unified Matriculation Tertiary Ecaminations/ Direct Entry (JAMB UMTE/DE) forms for aspiring students. The idea is no doubt an act of the governor’s milk of human kindness to the less privileged parents in the state.

Recently, the nation’s premier newspaper, the Nigerian Tribune, recognised Governor Tambuwal as the torch-bearer of educational development in the country.

It is noteworthy that the premier’s newspaper was not the only one of reputable organisations that have taken the bold step (like Sliverbird Group) in appraising the governor as an achiever. The United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) and other international organisations have also recognised and certified the governor’s stewardship in the education sector.

One would asked how our amiable governor was able to achieve these feat with ease, having been handed a mirage of unfeasible policies and abandoned projects by his predecessor, ranging from Independent Power Plant, Cattle Breeding Project, International Conference Centre, Kalambaina Housing Project, Sokoto City Projects at Asaro, Nakasari and Runjin Sambo, College of Nursing Sciences, Sokoto, College of Agriculture, Wurno, College of Legal Studies, Wamakko, College of Midwifery Sciences, Tambuwal, Gidan Salanke Housing Project to mention a few.

These aforementioned projects have, in the past, suffered scant attention from the immediate past administration, but are now accorded priority by Tambuwal’s administration. This means that as a politician with unique charisma, Tambuwal knows his ways in sailing through a stormy weather and the best way to achieve success in the end.

The recent socio-economic tie with Indonesia is a testimony to this virtue. The partnership deal will bring to the state various initiatives to advance her economy through the strengthening of the Zakat and Waqf Commission, healthcare delivery, dairy production, tourism and culture, among other gains to other sectors.

Also, a recent Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement was reached with OCP Africa and COPAG from Morocco in the development of agriculture, animal husbandry, mining and energy. It will soon be put to test in the state, while the benefits are expected to begin to be felt within a short time.

As a way to conclude, permit me to borrow from the governor’s speech on the 2020 budget as food for thought: “I wish to assure the people of Sokoto State that we have laid a solid foundation in our first tenure for greater socio-economic development through a commitment to policies and programs that have had relevance to the needs and aspirations of our people. Our scorecard is, by the special grace of Allah (SWT), attested to by local, national and international groups and agencies.”

Once again, congratulations to our Man of the Year.

Kajiji writes from Sokoto