Two First Class indigent Law students from the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday became beneficiaries of the Senate President Bukola Saraki’s Pension Scholarship Fund.

The students who are Mohammed Abdullahi Tosin, from Irepodun L.G.A and Adam Mohammed Ndakuku, from Edu L.G.A, were presented with N500, 000 each from the pension fund.

In his remark during the presentation of the scholarship award to the beneficiaries, Saraki said: “Earlier this year, during the electioneering campaign, I promised our people that my pension as governor of Kwara State will now be channeled into a scholarship fund for the benefit of brilliant but indigent students in Kwara State.”

Saraki added: “My aim is to ensure that the fund is used as a form of social security to support existing State Scholarship Scheme. The plan is to further give vent to my belief that government alone cannot effectively take care of the needs of our people. Individuals who are well endowed and blessed should support government efforts. That is one of the symbolisms that today’s occasion represents.”

He further emphasised that the best resource Nigeria has to propel her development towards is her human resource, saying: “The best brains in the world are in this country, and those who can change the course of Nigeria’s development and make it faster and in compliance with world standard are already here.”

“These two gentlemen are the first beneficiaries of the scheme and the process to select other beneficiaries is on-going. Very soon, we will present cheques to other beneficiaries.

“Let me put it on record that since the commencement of payment of the pension, I have not drawn a single kobo from it. I have been waiting eagerly to decide on what programme to channel it into. Thank God, the idea of the scholarship programme came up during the last campaigns and here we are today,” Saraki explained.

While appealing to wealthy individuals to emulate the philanthropic gesture to help the less privileged ones in our society, he said: “We need to eliminate the situation where lack of financial capability kills the dreams of many brilliant, creative and well-focused Nigerians.”

He asked: “Or how do we explain a situation where students struggled to make first class in the Law faculty of the university and lack of sponsorship will prevent them from becoming professional lawyers because they could not sponsor their training at the Nigeria Law School?”

Saraki enjoined the beneficiaries to work hard at the Nigeria Law School and come out with First Class, adding that “They should make Kwara State in particular, and Nigeria, in general, proud by coming out with excellent results. They should remain focused, dedicated, hardworking and forward looking.”

•Photo shows Saraki and the beneficiaries today, while presenting the scholarship award to them . . . yesterday in Ilorin.

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