Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has ordered the removal of tax clearance as a requirement for accessing scholarships, making it easier for students from poor backgrounds to receive financial support.

The Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board, Prof. Yahaya Ibrahim, while speaking to journalists in Kaduna on Sunday, said the governor?s executive order aims to improve access to scholarships for students who need them most.

Ibrahim also revealed that essay writing remains a requirement but is now used to identify areas where students need support rather than as a barrier to accessing scholarships.

?The governor has removed the requirement for tax clearance, making it easier for students from poor backgrounds to access scholarships.

?The essay writing requirement remains, but it is now used to assess students? needs rather than as a condition for eligibility,? he said.

He added that, to further simplify the application process, the governor has established seven Scholarship Awards Zonal Units in rural areas, each equipped with 30 computers.

?These units are located in Zaria, Kafanchan, Kachia, Pambegua, Makarfi, Kaduna North, and Kaduna South zones.

?The establishment of these zonal units has eased the burden of travelling to the Board?s headquarters in Kaduna and reduced congestion,? Ibrahim said.

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Ibrahim added that the Board has also introduced on-the-spot scholarship enrolments for indigenous citizens across tertiary institutions, enlisting over 4,330 potential beneficiaries awaiting disbursement.

Additionally, he said, 3,397 students have been awarded local scholarships from May 2023 to date, while 30 students have benefitted from third-party Tertiary Education Loans.

The governor, he said, has also demonstrated his commitment to supporting students with special needs by introducing government-funded scholarship intervention programmes for students in innovation, aviation, merit-based studies, underprivileged groups, and People with Special Needs.

?The inclusion of government special scholarship intervention programmes for innovation, aviation, merit-based studies, underprivileged groups, and People with Special Needs (PLWDs) is at the heart of His Excellency?s agenda,? Ibrahim said.

He added that the governor?s initiatives have been hailed as a major breakthrough in the state?s education sector, with students and parents expressing their gratitude for his commitment to supporting education in Kaduna State.

In a related development, he said Governor Sani has provided employment for six medical students who recently graduated from Cuba, along with 14 of their counterparts who graduated from Uganda.

According to Ibrahim, the 14 nursing graduates from Uganda ?were all automatically employed into the Kaduna State civil service by His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State.? (The PUNCH)

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