…as Rep J. J Umaru distributes 101 scholarships, 20 cars, others
Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has revealed how his administration is working towards promoting education and youth development, stressing that it is the vision of his government to see the younger generation become doctors, engineers, pilots and to explore their potentials in the field of sports.
Engineer Sule made this known while speaking as special guest of honour in Akwanga, on Saturday, at an event organized by Hon. J J Umaru, House of Representatives member representing Wamba/Akwanga/Nasarawa-Eggon Federal Constituency, aimed at empowering women and youths.
In the area of education, the Governor disclosed that apart from paying the backlog of scholarships to indigines of the state studying in various institutions of higher learning within the country, particularly from 2016-2021, with the process for the payment of the remaining 2022 to 2023 ongoing, his administration has also sponsored over 200 indigines of Nasarawa State to study in institutions of learning across the world.
He explained that all these was in a bid to fill up the deficiencies in the supply of indigenous doctors, engineers, pilots and technicians.
“When it comes to education, since we came, we have paid all outstanding scholarships from 2016 to 2021. We are now in the process of paying that of 2022 and 2023. We have also given overseas scholarships to not less than 200 youths from Nasarawa State who are studying in institutions across the world.
“Why are we doing this? Because we have a dream. I want to share with you today. In Nasarawa State, we lack indigenous doctors. In Nasarawa State we are lacking indigenous engineers and indigenous aircraft pilots. We are lacking all these people.
“That is the reason why we are developing our technical education. Right now, when I leave here, I am going straight to Andaha because we are going to start renovating the science school in Andaha by next week,” he added.
In order to facilitate the cost of training for these categories of students, the Governor announced that his administration has evolved a scheme to sponsor intelligent students who would study medicine with a view to working for the state government after their graduation.
He explained that intelligent students who are willing to study medicine can enter into contract with the state government to finance their education but on condition to work with the state government for 4 or 5 years after completing their training.
“And so I said, let’s us go into contract with very intelligence students so that we can sponsor them completely until they become doctors but let them sign the contract with the state to work for 4 or 5 years,” he stated.
In the field of sports, Engineer Sule said it’s the vision of his administration to see Nasarawa State turn into another Brazil especially in the area of football within the shortest possible time.
He said that informed his decision to visit the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, st the Glass House, to seek his intervention towards assisting Nasarawa State to develop youths from the state.
“Just yesterday, I visited the President of the NFF, Ibrahim Gusau. When I visited him, I said, Mr. President, I want the NFF to come in and assist us in Nasarawa State to help develop our own youths. So that I will continue to see the youths of Nasarawa State playing for the Super Eagles, the youths of Nasarawa State playing for IICC Shootings Stars, Rangers and others,” he said.
Following the visit, the NFF President advised the Governor to set up a feeder team with youths younger than 16 years, in order to catch them young with a view to grooming them into a formidable team.
“I told him by the grace of God that on Monday, I will be in Lafia, and I am going to get the team together. We will start the issue of our feeder team from there. Because it’s very important for us to find a way. I have been to Brazil many times. Whether it’s Rio or Sau Polo or Santos, anywhere I go, I come across some of these young people who are being trained, and that is why Brazil is what it is,” he added.
Engineer Sule noted that with the industrialization thrust of his administration, especially with the establishment of about 5 different factories processing lithium in the state, it is the vision of his administration to see these factories employing indigenous engineers, technicians and operators.
Speaking on the event, the Governor commended Hon. J J Umaru for reaching out to empower members of his constituency with transformers, vehicles, deep freezers, grinding machines, sawing machines, cooking stoves and 101 scholarships.
He particularly commended the Federal lawmakers dexterity in sponsoring six different bills within the first one hundred days of his election.
“I want to really show great appreciation to JJ Umaru. From day one, he did not leave anyone in doubt. There is no ambiguity in his process of taking us to where we are supposed to be.
“This is one member who doesn’t have any need for ethnicity or religion. He is a performer, and he is competent. He has capacity, and he has as well the wisdom to do it. Any time you see a member using ethnicity and this and that, that means the member doesn’t have the capacity to be that member,” he stated.
The Governor used the opportunity of the event to appeal to especially the beneficiaries of the 20 vehicles, not to sell them but to employ them in business even if it’s Ubber business in order to be able to make some money.
“I am talking to the beneficiaries that it’s very important that you use this vehicle for business. Even if you are going to use it for Uber. Let the vehicle generate something for you. You can’t take it and sell. That is the only way you can promote the name of the person who is doing this to you,” he said.
Presenting the scholarships tagged Sabon Solo Scholarship to 101 beneficiaries, 20 vehicles, three transformers, deep freezers, grinding and sawing machines and 100 cooking stoves, Hon..Jeremiah J. Umaru, said he is distributing the items to mark his one hundred days in office.
Rep J. J used the opportunity to highlight on his achievements with the given period, stressing that he has succeeded in sponsoring six bills that have direct bearing on the lives of the people of his constituency, including pushing for the motion seeking for the rehabilitation of the collapsed bridge in Akwanga, amongst others.
He particularly called on the people of Nasarawa State zone to eschew politics of tribe and religion, adding that it’s time for the zone to come together to support Engineer Sule.
“Today we have a Governor we should not take it for granted. Other zones had their share and did what they could. This is the time our Governor needs our support more. This is the time he needs our prayers more. The issues of difference between and amongst us should be a thing of the past. This is the time to change the narrative. This is the time to rights the wrongs. This is the time to work together as one for Nasarawa North and Nasarawa State to get to the promised land,” he stated.
In a goodwill message, State Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Aliyu Bello, commended the lawmaker for bringing the dividends of democracy to the people of his constituency.
While pointing out that the APC is desirous of seeing politicians who would come out to support the laudable initiatives of the Governor, Hon. Bello however called on the people to completely detach religion from politics.
“We need those who would support the Governor by bringing dividends of democracy to the people. There is no issue of religion here. Politics is not a matter of religion but about who would bring development to the people,” he added.
The APC Chairman also made a case for the older generation to encourage youths like Hon. J. J Umaru by leaving the stage for younger politicians.
“Any person who has not gone to the House of Reps by 41, he or she should leave it for the younger generation. Hon. J J Umaru has shown that intelligence and wisdom are not exclusive preserve of elders. This time around we got it right,” he said.
He promised to return the APC back to the people, urging religious leaders not to take over the job of politicians by making politicians take recourse to churches and mosques during electioneering campaigns.