The Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, yesterday, presented N4 million cash to four outstanding Bauchi indigene students who scored highest in the 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination to support their academic pursuits in higher institutions.
The best-scoring students are Kawthar Shehu, who scored the highest number of 348; Geoffrey Yakubu, who scored 347; Abdullahi Garba, who scored 347; and Magaji Umar, 333, who each received 1 million from the governor.
Speaking during the presentation of cash to beneficiaries, Governor Bala said that the gesture was to encourage others, especially those about to sit for the same examination.
Bala, represented by the State Head of Service (HOS), Yahuza Adamu Haruna, said that the gesture had shown the state government‘s commitment to investing in human capital development.
He said: “Human capital development is the antidote for every development, and if you want to destroy a generation, a country or a nation, just kill their education system, and that‘s all. There is no need to carry a gun or any ammunition.
“Once the people are not educated, they are already destroyed, and this is why the government has been working round the clock to see that education is not only given attention but also given the greatest priority.
“If somebody can sit in Bauchi state and score 348, that tells you that our education is working, and if these four can do it, it means we have so many others that have the potential to do it also.
“I‘m requesting for the staff of the Ministry of Education to go back and see how we can reciprocate what the governor is doing by bringing more of these students to the front burner so that tomorrow, we will have like 40 of Bauchi indigenes that scored over 300 in JAMB.“
He congratulated the students and their parents and urged all the students of Bauchi state origin to rise to the occasion and aspire to surpass the awarded students.
Also speaking, Alhaji Ali Babayo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, lauded the governor for creating an environment that would enable the implementation of all the education policies in the state.
“The journey started some months ago when we presented our request to the JAMB office to give us the names of four outstanding students of Bauchi state indigenes who performed wonderfully in the 2024 examination.
“They honoured our request and submitted the names of the four students who scored the highest mark in the JAMB examination.
“This gesture is to encourage the students and set a good example for others to emulate, especially those about to sit for the same examination,” he said.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of the student‘s parents, Malam Ali Garba appreciated the state government‘s kind gesture and said that the money would help them in their academic endeavours in their various high institutions.
