Abubakar Gambo Umar, Managing Director of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Scholarship Foundation, has disclosed that over 1,000 Northern youths from poor families across the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory have benefited annually from the Foundation’s one hundred million naira scholarship programme.
The Managing Director made the disclosure while presenting his opening speech on Wednesday during the 2025 Scholarship Awards Ceremony at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation Main Hall in Kaduna.
Umar explained that the scholarship grant is for undergraduates studying sciences, engineering, medicine, and related courses such as Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
According to him, the foundation selects 200 undergraduates, 10 from each state and the FCT, for the scholarship award.
He added that the scholarship is awarded only to students who are indigent and face difficulty in paying their school fees.
“We ensure that those that benefit from the scholarship are brilliant students who have CGP of 2.5 and above both in universities and the polytechnics.”
He added that it was awarded to students from 200 level, and each receive N100,000 yearly until they graduate.
According to him, about 47 per cent of the beneficiaries have graduated with first-class degrees and distinction from universities and polytechnics.
“We are happy to say that we have touched their lives and it is a thing of pride they have become what we call the Sir Ahmadu Bello scholars,” he said.
Umar explained that the foundation has been bringing the beneficiaries together to know themselves, share experiences, and participate in mentorship programmes.
“Some of them that were not able to get jobs, we help them through referrals to get employment in public service or private sector,” he said.
Umar disclosed that since the establishment of the Foundation in 2009 by the 19 Northern Governors, it had intervened in education, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and health sectors.
“We have done a lot of intervention on leadership values, holding annual lectures on good governance, and we have been able to achieve a lot in conflict resolution and peace building across the north.
“We have also done a lot of intervention on the problems associated with internally displaced persons and refugees across the North.”
