Kano Taps Global Talent: 110 Foreign Scholars Return as Gov. Yusuf Links Education to ‘Kano First’ Development Drive 
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to leveraging education as a catalyst for development, declaring that strategic investments in both foreign and local postgraduate scholarships are central to advancing the state’s “Kano First” agenda.
The governor made the remarks on Tuesday at the Government House in Kano during the presentation of certificates to 110 beneficiaries of a foreign postgraduate scholarship programme, recently returned from studies abroad.
According to a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, Yusuf emphasized that the ultimate goal of the scholarship initiative is to ensure that academic achievements translate into tangible socio-economic progress for Kano State.
“Our goal is simple: to ensure that the investment made in you translates into real development for our state, in line with our ‘Kano First’ agenda,” the governor was quoted as saying. “This government remains committed to supporting you and creating job opportunities where your skills will be utilised.”
Describing the occasion as a milestone for the state, Yusuf said the return of the scholars marked “a day of pride, joy, and fulfilment,” noting that the beneficiaries had departed with hope and returned with knowledge, experience, and success.
The graduates completed postgraduate studies in diverse and critical fields including engineering, pharmacy, sciences, ICT, and advanced technology at Sharda University.
Governor Yusuf, however, challenged the scholars to deploy their newly acquired expertise toward solving real-life problems and improving governance systems. “The knowledge you have gained must not remain on paper. It must be applied to solve problems, improve systems, and make life better for our people,” he stressed.
He also congratulated the families of the beneficiaries for their unwavering support, assuring that the scholarship programme would be sustained to expand opportunities for more youths in the state.
In separate remarks, a parent, Zuwaira Sanusi, alongside two returning scholars, Yusuf Muhammad and Hauwa Muhammad, expressed deep appreciation to the governor for what they described as a life-changing initiative. They offered prayers for his continued leadership and called for the expansion of the programme to benefit more underprivileged families.
As a mark of appreciation, the scholars presented a book titled “A Journey of Gratitude and Discovery” to the governor, along with an award recognizing his contributions to educational development.
In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Farouk, disclosed that the governor had welcomed the gesture and pledged to sponsor the publication of 2,000 copies of the book for distribution across ministries, departments, agencies, and educational institutions.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, revealed that the current administration had cleared all outstanding liabilities inherited from previous governments regarding foreign scholarship programmes, underscoring its commitment to restoring confidence in the initiative.
The event underscores the Yusuf administration’s broader strategy to harness global knowledge and expertise as a foundation for sustainable development in Kano State.