From Ahmad A. Usman
Four hundred indigent students from Southern Kaduna have been awarded scholarships of 100,000 naira each under the Marshall Katung Foundation.Salama News reports that the move has brought back hope to many young people struggling to pursue their education across tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the founder and Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, Barr. Sunday Marshall Katung, the Chairman Southern Kaduna Community Development Associations, Elder Bature Likoro said the initiative was borne out of the Senator’s genuine desire to support students whose educational dreams are threatened by financial challenges.
Elder Likoro explained that Senator Katung believes education remains the strongest tool for social change and human capital development, stressing that empowering young people through education would reduce poverty, crime, and unemployment in the region. He reaffirmed the Senator’s commitment to sustaining the scholarship scheme annually and expanding its reach to cover more students across Southern Kaduna and appealed to those who applied but were not shortlisted to remain patient, assuring them that their turn would come in subsequent editions.
Earlier, the Chairperson of the Foundation’s Scholarship Committee, Barr. Gloria Ballason, revealed that a total of 3,125 students applied, out of which 400 were carefully selected after a rigorous screening process. She commended the transparency of the selection exercise and applauded the dedication of the team in ensuring that only genuinely indigent students benefited from the support.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Scholarship Committee, Mr. Edward Pama Auta, urged government and well meaning individuals to invest more in scholarship and educational support programs to reduce the burden on struggling families and promote equal learning opportunities for all.
Delivering a keynote paper on Mainstreaming STEM Education for National Development, the Chairman of the Southern Kaduna Professors Forum, Prof. John La’ah, spoke extensively on the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), said for Nigeria to fully harness the potential of innovation, the teaching of STEM subjects must begin from the primary school level. He noted that early exposure would inspire creativity and prepare young minds to solve real life problems in science and technology.
He further emphasized that the progress of any society is directly tied to the quality of education it provides, calling for stronger partnerships between government, private organizations, and individuals to build a culture that prioritizes learning, research, and innovation as the foundation for sustainable development.
Two of the beneficiaries, Zingina Precious Samuel and Omega Enoch Alajibi, who spoke on behalf of the awardees, thanked Senator Katung for what they described as a lifeline intervention that came at a critical time.
They however, pledged to make judicious use of the opportunity and prayed for God’s blessings and continued strength for the Senator and the Foundation.
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