Kano Governor Rescues 84 Stranded Students in Cyprus with ₦2.24 Billion Intervention

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

In a powerful display of leadership and compassion, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has secured the future of 84 stranded students in Northern Cyprus by settling their outstanding tuition and accommodation fees, amounting to ₦2.24 billion.

The students, part of a foreign scholarship scheme launched during the tenure of former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, had been abandoned after the programme was suspended under the previous administration. Many were left in dire conditions—locked out of classrooms, evicted from hostels, and unable to return home or complete their education.

In a statement released by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Governor’s Director General of Media and Publicity, the funds were paid directly to Near East University in Cyprus, effectively clearing all debts and unlocking long-delayed academic certificates.

“These students have waited over five years for this moment,” the statement read. “The government has paid ₦2.24 billion to settle their fees and restore their dignity.”

The beneficiaries include 28 medical students and dozens of graduates in fields like pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, engineering, biomedical sciences, and computer science. Most had completed their programs but were unable to access their certificates due to unpaid balances.

For many families, the news has been life-changing.

“We suffered emotionally and financially for years. Today, my child’s future is secure again,” said Fatima Suleiman, mother of one of the graduates.

Governor Yusuf has also directed that all returning students be offered automatic employment in the Kano State civil service.

“These are highly trained professionals. Their return is a blessing to our state, and we must empower them to contribute to our development,” he said.

The move has been widely praised by citizens, human rights advocates, and the Nigerian diaspora, who described it as a landmark act of accountability and empathy.

“This is more than a financial rescue—it’s a restoration of hope, dignity, and the promise of education,” said Musa Lawan, a Nigerian student welfare advocate in Europe.

Source News
Channelstv

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