Gov Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state has presented N4 million cash to four outstanding Bauchi indegene candidates that scored highest in the 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.
Mohammed, who was represented by Alhaji Yehuza Adamu, the state Head of Civil Service, disclosed this during the presentation of the cash gift to the candidates in Bauchi on Tuesday.
He said said that the gesture was to encourage others to work hard to excell in their academic pursuits.
The governor explained that each student would be given the sum of N1 million, saying that it would help in securing admissions into their various choice of higher institutions.
“The gesture has shown the commitment of the state government in investing in human capital development.
“Human capital development is the antidote for every development and If you want to destroy a generation, a country or a nation, just destroy their education system and that’s all. 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 the attention but also, has been 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,” he said.
According to him, 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, their parents and urged all the students of Bauchi state origin to sit up and aspire to surpass the awardees.
Also speaking, Alhaji Ali Babayo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, lauded the governor for creating an enabling environment for 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 that performed wonderfully in the 2024 examination.
“They honoured our request and submitted to us 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 who are about to sit for the same examination,” he said.
He named the students as Kawthar Shehu who had the highest score of 348, Geoffrey Yakubu with 347, Abdullahi Garba, 347 and Magaji Umar with 333.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of the parents of the students, Malam Ali Garba, appreciated the state government for the kind gesture and said that the money would help them in their academic endeavours in their various high institutions. (NAN)
