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Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum on Wednesday bided farewell to 19 youths, who grew up as orphans and were classified as vulnerable indigenes of the State who will soon be departing for Suez City in Egypt, to study and obtain Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery (MBBS) degrees on a full government scholarship, for a duration of five years.
The scholarship to Suez University for which Governor Zulum released N250M, was part of the gains of his visit to some Egyptian Universities in November 2020.
The governor had, during that trip, promised to approve scholarships for youths from the most deprived family backgrounds in Borno State to study in Egypt, other countries, and locally in other States in Nigeria.
Zulum, later in February 2022, made a follow-up visit to the Egyptian embassy in Abuja for a meeting with Ambassador Ihab Awad, to discuss the educational partnership.
The 19 youths who benefitted from that partnership were selected from Borno’s 27 local government areas, comprising 12 young men and seven young women.
Governor Zulum received the 19 beneficiaries at the Government House, Maiduguri.
They were led by Commissioner for Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Babagana Mustapha Mallambe, whose ministry supervises Borno State Scholarship Board.
Zulum congratulated the youths and urged them to focus on their studies and be good ambassadors of Borno and Nigeria.
The governor announced the release of five hundred United States dollars as a special parting gift to each of the 19 students.
He also said each of them will be receiving 200 USD every month in addition to the provision of accommodation and some logistics.
Mallambe explained that the beneficiaries will be departing for Egypt on February 11, 2023.
Chairman of the Borno State Scholarship Board, Malam Baba Isa, confirmed that all payments and necessary documentation have been made and concluded.
Dr. Tamos Khazim in charge of testing and selection noted that the students were admitted after passing pre-qualification examinations.