By Bello Dauda
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has offered automatic employment to 54 postgraduate students who benefited from a foreign scholarship program to study health-related courses in India.
The Governor made this announcement during a warm reception and Iftar (Ramadan breaking of fast) organized for the students who studied at Symbiosis International University in Pune, India, and returned to the state on Friday.
Governor Yusuf explained that all arrangements have been concluded to absorb the students into the state civil service to enhance the health sector.
He urged the returning scholars to utilize the expertise and knowledge they acquired abroad to improve healthcare service delivery in the state, particularly in addressing issues like maternal mortality and sickle cell anemia, considering the state’s large population.
“For excelling in your studies, we have made all necessary arrangements to offer you automatic employment within the Kano State Civil Service. In a short while, your appointment letters will be issued to you through the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Head of Service.
“Unlike in the past, you will benefit from the new minimum wage of N71,000 implemented in the state. Additionally, we have improved allowances for healthcare workers to ensure a conducive working environment.
“What surprises me is seeing individuals who benefitted from government sponsorships leave their state to work elsewhere instead of contributing to their state’s development. We appeal to you to bring your wealth of knowledge and expertise to improve the lives of our people, especially women, to address issues like maternal mortality and sickle cell anemia.
“Today, we feel fulfilled and proud to welcome another batch of our children who were sent to India for their master’s degrees in various fields. I recall that when we took over from the previous administration, we promised to continue the foreign scholarship program initiated by former Governor Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
“Of the 1,000 beneficiaries, 418 were sent to India and Uganda last year. All have graduated, with the remaining 68 in India expected to return by April,” Governor Yusuf stated.
A breakdown of the graduates shows that 36 are medical doctors (including two veterinary doctors), 11 are pharmacists, two are anatomists, and one is a radiographer.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Scholarship Board, Kabiru Getso, revealed that some of the courses studied by the students were the first of their kind in Kano and Northern Nigeria.
He noted that achieving this milestone puts the state in a strong position to improve healthcare service delivery.
He further explained that all the students excelled in their academic pursuits, completing their programs with impressive grades and without any carryovers.
Speaking on behalf of the students, Dr. Yusuf Abdulmalik Abubakar, the group’s captain, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Kano State Government, noting that words were not enough to convey their appreciation.
