The Yobe State Government has proudly announced the graduation of 167 students who were sponsored to study at Indian universities through a state-funded scholarship program. Governor Mai Mala Buni, via his Director-General of Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed, highlighted that these graduates are expected to make significant contributions to strengthening key sectors, particularly in health.
Launched in 2020, the scholarship initiative was designed to enhance the skills of Yobe’s youth in specialized fields. A total of 233 students were sent to Indian universities to study disciplines including medical laboratory science, pharmacy, radiology, physiotherapy, optometry, computer science, and engineering.
The graduation ceremony took place across five Indian universities. Governor Buni, represented by the Speaker of the Yobe House of Assembly, Buba Mashio, commended the students for their achievements.
According to the statement, of the 63 students sponsored to GD Goenka University, 58 have graduated, while five are still completing their studies. From the 84 students sent to Integral University, 73 have graduated, with 11 still in progress. Additionally, all 22 students at Kalinga University have completed their programs, as well as one student at PP Savani University. The statement also noted that 24 students continue their education at the same institution. Furthermore, 10 students are at DIT University, 13 at VGU University, and another 13 at Glocal University.
The program has notably increased the number of trained optometrists and pharmacists by over 400 percent in the past four years compared to the state’s figures since its creation in 1991.
Governor Buni congratulated the graduates and urged them to excel in their professional roles. The Nigerian High Commission in India also commended the Yobe scholarship program for its positive impact on the state’s development.
