 |
A cross-section of Kwankwasiyya
Scholarship beneficiaries during their
send-forth party Monday a |
As Kwankwasiyya Foundation sponsors 242 for master’s degrees in India
Kwankwasiya,
a non-governmental initiative of former Kano state governor, Dr Rabiu Musa
kwankwaso, has sponsored 242 first-class graduates to Indian universities for
their master’s degrees, BASHIR MOHAMMED reports.
a non-governmental initiative of former Kano state governor, Dr Rabiu Musa
kwankwaso, has sponsored 242 first-class graduates to Indian universities for
their master’s degrees, BASHIR MOHAMMED reports.
Background
Senator Rabiu Musa
Kwankwaso has been known and touted for long as a self-acclaimed crusader in
the education sector, even more at the time he was governor of Kano state.
Senator Kwankwaso had recently held his admirers and those supporting his
ideology spell-bound when he organised a colourful event to mark the departure
of 242 first-class graduates he had sponsored to pursue master’s degrees in
various courses in Indian universities.
Kwankwaso has been known and touted for long as a self-acclaimed crusader in
the education sector, even more at the time he was governor of Kano state.
Senator Kwankwaso had recently held his admirers and those supporting his
ideology spell-bound when he organised a colourful event to mark the departure
of 242 first-class graduates he had sponsored to pursue master’s degrees in
various courses in Indian universities.
Kwankwasiya’s exceptional gesture
The 242
beneficiary graduates were part of the initial 370 chosen to benefit from the
Kwankwasiya Foundation’s exceptional gesture, which came at a time when no one
was expecting. This made one of the beneficiaries’ mother to weep profusely on
the podium when she stood to speak on behalf of others parents.
beneficiary graduates were part of the initial 370 chosen to benefit from the
Kwankwasiya Foundation’s exceptional gesture, which came at a time when no one
was expecting. This made one of the beneficiaries’ mother to weep profusely on
the podium when she stood to speak on behalf of others parents.
“I love you,
I love you, I love you Kwankwaso, for what you have done to our children in the
present difficult economic situation. As mothers, we are short of words to say
thank you. “Our children have really tasted the sumptuous honey of
democracy. Your name, would undoubtedly be written in gold and remain indelible
in the sand of time,” the woman sobbed.
I love you, I love you Kwankwaso, for what you have done to our children in the
present difficult economic situation. As mothers, we are short of words to say
thank you. “Our children have really tasted the sumptuous honey of
democracy. Your name, would undoubtedly be written in gold and remain indelible
in the sand of time,” the woman sobbed.
Imminent personalities present
The epoch-making
event was well attended by eminent personalities including his bosom friend,
former Edo state governor, Mr Lucky Igbinedion in company of some die-hard
Kwankwasiya supporters, who were at the venue of the occasion to cheer the man
they christened as an indefatigable champion of education.
event was well attended by eminent personalities including his bosom friend,
former Edo state governor, Mr Lucky Igbinedion in company of some die-hard
Kwankwasiya supporters, who were at the venue of the occasion to cheer the man
they christened as an indefatigable champion of education.
Speaking
on the occasion, the former Edo state governor noted that there was no
sacrifice that is worth more to make than to empower youths in their teens to
pursue higher education in the manner his friend, Senator Kwankwaso did to the
242 graduates he had sponsored to do various
courses in Indian universities.
on the occasion, the former Edo state governor noted that there was no
sacrifice that is worth more to make than to empower youths in their teens to
pursue higher education in the manner his friend, Senator Kwankwaso did to the
242 graduates he had sponsored to do various
courses in Indian universities.
“I
am delighted to be here in your midst today to witness this historic event. It
will really inspire others to follow in the footstep of the supreme commander
of the Kwankwassiya movement. This is the work of a great patriot who, after
his exit as governor and senator, still maintains his benevolent posture
on education.
am delighted to be here in your midst today to witness this historic event. It
will really inspire others to follow in the footstep of the supreme commander
of the Kwankwassiya movement. This is the work of a great patriot who, after
his exit as governor and senator, still maintains his benevolent posture
on education.
“What
he really need from the good people of Kano is massive support, goodwill and
prayer for him to have the courage, strength and willpower to sustain the
tempo. If you have many like him, Kano would stand unbeatable in the field
of stiff economic competition,” he affirmed.
he really need from the good people of Kano is massive support, goodwill and
prayer for him to have the courage, strength and willpower to sustain the
tempo. If you have many like him, Kano would stand unbeatable in the field
of stiff economic competition,” he affirmed.
Kwankwasiya door remains open
In his speech on
the gesture, the fire-brand Senator thrilled his excited audience who had
expected him to spit his usual polemic and pugilist vocabulary. He spoke softly and told the parents of the
beneficiaries and the people of Kano that the doors of the Kwankwasiya
Foundation would remain open to those who are ever willing to contribute their
widow’s mite to the development of education..
the gesture, the fire-brand Senator thrilled his excited audience who had
expected him to spit his usual polemic and pugilist vocabulary. He spoke softly and told the parents of the
beneficiaries and the people of Kano that the doors of the Kwankwasiya
Foundation would remain open to those who are ever willing to contribute their
widow’s mite to the development of education..
Speaking further
at the ceremony to mark the departure of the graduates, who are the
first batch expected to leave Kano for India Tuesday, Kwankwaso said the
sponsorship was part of the contribution given to the foundation by well
meaning individuals, who had contributed their widow’s mite in seeing to the
success of the laudable gesture.
at the ceremony to mark the departure of the graduates, who are the
first batch expected to leave Kano for India Tuesday, Kwankwaso said the
sponsorship was part of the contribution given to the foundation by well
meaning individuals, who had contributed their widow’s mite in seeing to the
success of the laudable gesture.
He said the
decision taken to effect the gesture was conceived to recognise the
stellar performance of the 370 first class graduates which he described
as exceptional geniuses, adding that with the flair for supporting
excellence gaining credence, it would be counter-productive to allow such a
crop of geniuses to be wasting away.
decision taken to effect the gesture was conceived to recognise the
stellar performance of the 370 first class graduates which he described
as exceptional geniuses, adding that with the flair for supporting
excellence gaining credence, it would be counter-productive to allow such a
crop of geniuses to be wasting away.
He pointed out
that supporting and propping the education was his cardinal thrust when he was
in the saddle of authority and that he had effected a similar feat with
hundreds of youth benefitting from his robust education policy, which affirms
that educating the populace and empowering the youth to move forward in that
direction was the best way to justify one’s leadership ability and utmost
capacity.
that supporting and propping the education was his cardinal thrust when he was
in the saddle of authority and that he had effected a similar feat with
hundreds of youth benefitting from his robust education policy, which affirms
that educating the populace and empowering the youth to move forward in that
direction was the best way to justify one’s leadership ability and utmost
capacity.
“We are here today
to prove to the world that our ghost is still active as far as supporting
the youth to move forward is concerned. We have established this noble
foundation to keep everyone active. We are ever ready to sustain our previous
tempo in the area of encouraging our talented youth to have a sense of
belonging.
to prove to the world that our ghost is still active as far as supporting
the youth to move forward is concerned. We have established this noble
foundation to keep everyone active. We are ever ready to sustain our previous
tempo in the area of encouraging our talented youth to have a sense of
belonging.
“We
are patiently waiting to retrieve our mandate at the governorship petition
election tribunal so as to be able to continue with our effort aimed at
empowering the youths in all sphere of human endeavour.
are patiently waiting to retrieve our mandate at the governorship petition
election tribunal so as to be able to continue with our effort aimed at
empowering the youths in all sphere of human endeavour.
“You
are all leaving Kano tonight, enroute to Indian cities where the universities
were sited. We will be around to see you off and pray for your success.
are all leaving Kano tonight, enroute to Indian cities where the universities
were sited. We will be around to see you off and pray for your success.
“We have paid
for all your academic expenses throughout your sojourn in the universities
which include expenses for your upkeep and the tuition fee for the two years
you are staying there. This we have done to fulfill our responsibility. We
have also made every arrangement to ensure that you have a return ticket on the
successful completion of your academic period,” he said.
for all your academic expenses throughout your sojourn in the universities
which include expenses for your upkeep and the tuition fee for the two years
you are staying there. This we have done to fulfill our responsibility. We
have also made every arrangement to ensure that you have a return ticket on the
successful completion of your academic period,” he said.
Supporters’
speeches
speeches
Speaking earlier,
the gubernatorial flagbearer on the platform of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, said the historic event was
convened to demonstrate to the world and the people of Kano that education had
been on the priority list of the Kwankwasiya movement, adding that
he was willing to pursue such a good gesture to a logical conclusion, if he
succeed in winning his case at the election petition tribunal.
the gubernatorial flagbearer on the platform of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, said the historic event was
convened to demonstrate to the world and the people of Kano that education had
been on the priority list of the Kwankwasiya movement, adding that
he was willing to pursue such a good gesture to a logical conclusion, if he
succeed in winning his case at the election petition tribunal.
“We are ready to
support our talented youths to move forward. We are fully guided and
continue to be guided by the noble teachings of our grand commander, Senator
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. We have made up our mind to join the governorship
race to correct the ills we had noted in the way the business of
governance is being conducted,” he stated.
support our talented youths to move forward. We are fully guided and
continue to be guided by the noble teachings of our grand commander, Senator
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. We have made up our mind to join the governorship
race to correct the ills we had noted in the way the business of
governance is being conducted,” he stated.
He called on the
beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of Kano by exhibiting the traits of good
conduct and absolute decorum, stressing that as students they were very
much expected to prove their seriousness in both character and learning.
beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of Kano by exhibiting the traits of good
conduct and absolute decorum, stressing that as students they were very
much expected to prove their seriousness in both character and learning.
With
the laudable gesture was eliciting a fusillade of individual opinions, the
governor was praised to high heavens by those who spoke to
Blueprint at the venue with the students themselves expressing their utmost
gratitude for what came to them as a surprise.
the laudable gesture was eliciting a fusillade of individual opinions, the
governor was praised to high heavens by those who spoke to
Blueprint at the venue with the students themselves expressing their utmost
gratitude for what came to them as a surprise.
A
die-hard supporter of the Kwankwasiya movement, Isah Shehu, said the senator
had stirred the hornet’s nest in the opposition circles, considering the fact
that the philanthropist’s gesture came at a time of stiff rivalry in the
political landscape of Kano. He added that history was made, and that could never
be disputed.
die-hard supporter of the Kwankwasiya movement, Isah Shehu, said the senator
had stirred the hornet’s nest in the opposition circles, considering the fact
that the philanthropist’s gesture came at a time of stiff rivalry in the
political landscape of Kano. He added that history was made, and that could never
be disputed.
“I
am joining the bandwagon of those who are willing to support people to develop.
People like me can and will never be stampeded into choosing a bad alternative.
am joining the bandwagon of those who are willing to support people to develop.
People like me can and will never be stampeded into choosing a bad alternative.
“Kwankwaso
has done much to us and we are forever grateful” he said.
has done much to us and we are forever grateful” he said.
Sounding
a note of warning to politicians not willing to live up to their billings (in
the parlance of partisan politics), the PDP die-hard supporter maintained that
he was not a cynic who did not see light at the end of the tunnel, rather
he called on politicians to buckle-up by stopping the politics of
propaganda and endless rhetorics.
One of the beneficiaries who spoke to Blueprint on condition of anonymity said
that was the time they were all had a sense of belonging, adding that the
majority of those who benefitted from the scholarship scheme are from poor
family backgrounds that cannot shoulder the enormous responsibility of their
children’s education.
a note of warning to politicians not willing to live up to their billings (in
the parlance of partisan politics), the PDP die-hard supporter maintained that
he was not a cynic who did not see light at the end of the tunnel, rather
he called on politicians to buckle-up by stopping the politics of
propaganda and endless rhetorics.
One of the beneficiaries who spoke to Blueprint on condition of anonymity said
that was the time they were all had a sense of belonging, adding that the
majority of those who benefitted from the scholarship scheme are from poor
family backgrounds that cannot shoulder the enormous responsibility of their
children’s education.
It was however,
the contention of pundits in the education sector that the senator had, indeed,
opened the floodgate for other willing philanthropists to support the drive
pointing out that the vast human capital could best be harnessed and
exhaustively exploited with the much needed support given.
the contention of pundits in the education sector that the senator had, indeed,
opened the floodgate for other willing philanthropists to support the drive
pointing out that the vast human capital could best be harnessed and
exhaustively exploited with the much needed support given.