Sokoto Gov’t spends N6.7bn on scholarship, settles inherited liabilities 

From Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto

The Sokoto State Government has disclosed that it has spent a total of N6,791,891,890.00 on scholarship and student welfare between May 29, 2023 and September 2026, as part of efforts to reposition higher education and address inherited liabilities in the sector.

The Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Isa Muhammad Maishanu, stated this on Thursday while presenting the achievements and activities of the Sokoto State Scholarship Board from the inception of the administration of Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto to September 2026.

He said immediately after inauguration on May 29, 2023, the present administration inherited a backlog of unpaid tuition and registration fees affecting students in various institutions within Nigeria and abroad, with some students unable to register for examinations, progress to subsequent levels and complete their studies.

Recognising the urgency, Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto directed relevant authorities to investigate the obligations and establish mechanisms for their settlement.

For domestic institutions, Maishanu said a committee was constituted under Hon. Nasiru Aliyu Dantsoho to address outstanding registration fees owed to students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto for the 2021/2022 academic session, following which N555 million was released for disbursement to the affected students.

He added that for foreign institutions, another committee was constituted under the Secretary to the State Government, comprising the Chief of Staff, Accountant-General, Special Adviser and Secretary of the Scholarship Board, to examine, verify and reconcile outstanding liabilities owed to foreign institutions before payment.

The institutions covered included ten universities in Sudan — Imperial University, Ahfad University, National University, Elrazi University, Al-Hayat University, Ibn Sina University, University of Technology, Nahda University, Azza University and Sudan International University — as well as Wisconsin University in Ghana and Integral University in India.

The Commissioner said following the committee’s assessment and recommendations, government settled the verified outstanding liabilities, thereby addressing financial challenges that had hindered students’ academic progress.

To ensure transparency and accountability, he said another committee headed by the Special Adviser on Student Matters with student union leaders as members was established to screen and verify submissions from local institutions before bills were processed for payment, and that all payments made from 2023 to September 2026 were based on the findings of the various committees.

According to the breakdown presented, government spent N945,130,000.00 in 2023, N3,088,308,173.00 in 2024, N2,086,096,603.00 in 2025 and N605,155,480.00 in 2026, bringing the subtotal to N6,724,690,256.00, while N67,201,634.00 was spent on individual assistance, making a grand total of N6,791,891,890.00 covering tuition, registration, feeding, accommodation and other approved educational expenses.

Beyond payment of fees, Maishanu said government also improved the operational capacity and working environment of the Scholarship Board through provision of an official portal, computers and printers for Directors and the ICT Unit, installation of air conditioning systems, provision of refrigerators and televisions and new chairs and tables for offices to strengthen administrative efficiency, record-keeping and digital service delivery.

He disclosed that as part of manpower development policy, eligible medical students who have reached clinical stages and students in paramedical disciplines who have completed third year as well as those in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, Architecture, Nursing, Agriculture, Radiography and Radiology and other relevant disciplines may be transferred to relevant ministries for bonding, documentation and placement on relevant grade levels in accordance with civil service rules.

The Commissioner also said the Board resolved academic challenges faced by students transferred from Ukraine to Baze University who encountered difficulties relating to outstanding financial obligations and delays in academic progression after a committee headed by the SSG visited the university and settled verified outstanding bills.

On the 72 students evacuated from Sudan due to war, Maishanu said government directed immediate steps for their placement, and through intervention, Sudan International University entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto to facilitate continuation of studies, resulting in 24 students graduating while nine remained at final-year stage before the programme was discontinued due to lack of NUC approval.

He said to prevent further disruption, the nine affected students were subsequently relocated to Uganda under an arrangement between Sudan International University and the Islamic University in Uganda.

Maishanu further disclosed that government sponsored 22 students to pursue various science-related programmes at Integral University, Lucknow, India and University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan, to develop specialised skills and address manpower needs.

He listed the overall impact to include settlement of inherited liabilities, sustained financial support for students, resolution of academic challenges for students transferred from Ukraine and those evacuated from Sudan, facilitation of transition of eligible students into relevant ministries and improvement of administrative capacity of the Board.

While noting challenges, he said priority areas for further improvement include strengthening monitoring and verification of beneficiaries, maintaining accurate records, ensuring timely processing of fees, improving coordination with universities and ministries, strengthening digital systems and aligning future scholarship awards with state’s priority manpower needs.

He expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto for his continued support and commitment to the welfare and educational advancement of students in Sokoto State.