Governor Matawalle approves N400m for student scholarships

The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has endorsed N400 million for students’ payment and upkeep allowances on foreign and local scholarships for 2020 to 2021 academic session.

The scholarships approval is contained in a statement endorsed by Yusuf Idris, the Director-General, Media to the governor in Gusau on Thursday.

He disclosed that under the 2020 to 2021 academic session, the governor endorsed the release of N186. 6 million as payment for 67 Medical and Para-medical students presently going into their second year of studies in Sudan.

In addition, Matawalle approved the release of additional N24.5 million for 23 scholars in India and N56.4 million for 92 students studying in Cyprus.

He said, “Following a fact-finding visit to ascertain the state’s level of indebtedness for Zamfara state students at the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara and Crescent University, Abeokuta in Ogun, the governor approved the release of N70 million.

“The governor approved N19 million for 38 law school students for 2019 to 2020.”

He disclosed that endorsement and release of verification funds to screen and verify Zamfara indigenes studying in different public institutions of higher learning in Nigeria has been given by Governor Matawalle.

In view of this, he declared that it is to determine the actual numbers of students for the instant release of their bursary which was not paid in eight years.

Bello Muhammad Matawalle was born February 12, 1969. He is the current Governor of Zamfara State, Nigeria. He contested under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Matawalle attended Maradun Township Primary School finishing in 1979. He attended Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and later went to Thames Valley University, London.

He worked as a teacher at Government Girls College Moriki and Kwatarkoshi before joining the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. His first shot in politics was in 1998 when he ran for a house of assembly seat and won after he left the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Abuja.

Matawalle is married to four wives and has children.