Ayuba Sanusi
KEBBI STATE government has promised to offer scholarships to rescued girls of Federal Government College (FGC), Birnin Yauri.
The state governor, Comrade (Dr) Nasir Idris Kairan Gwandu, disclosed this while receiving a Turkish organisation, Nigeria/TUILP International College, who paid a courtesy visit to him in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.
It will be recalled that on 17 June 2021, a gang of bandits stormed FGC Birnin Yauri and abducted both male and female students of the college alongside two of their teachers.
The female captives spent more than a year in captivity before they finally regained freedom following concerted efforts by the government and their parents.
The governor said the girls would be offered scholarships to enable them to continue with their studies and actualise their dreams in various fields of endeavours.
He pledged to partner with the Turkish organisation to develop education, health and youth empowerment, adding that he had been monitoring the activities of the organisation for a long period and found them to be sincere and upright.
Dr Idris said: “I noticed their contribution in promoting health activities, hence, the decision of this administration to engage them in cataract surgery. My administration is ready to partner with any donor agency that will bring development to Kebbi State.”
The governor noted with satisfaction that his administration had embarked on the construction and rehabilitation of roads to give the state capital a facelift, adding that a similar project would be extended to other senatorial districts.
He assured that by next week, he would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on completion of the state secretariat to provide office accommodation to the entire civil servants in the state.
Dr Idris appealed to the people of the state to give the Turkish organisation maximum support and cooperation towards moving the state forward.
Earlier, the leader of the group, who is also the Group Managing Director, Surat Group of Companies, Mr Yasar Ovenc, assured the governor of their readiness to collaborate with the state government in promoting education, health and youth empowerment.
He requested the names of the rescued Yauri girl students and promised to offer them scholarships while emphasising that their priority area would be education, particularly girl-child education.
On the Turkish entourage were the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria/TULP International College, Mr Feyzulah Bigin and the President of UFUK Dialogue, Mr Imaran Ngin.
Eighteen-Eleven Media