The Sokoto State Government has spent a total of ₦6.79 billion on scholarships and related educational support between May 2023 and September 2026, while also facilitating the resettlement and continuation of studies of students evacuated from war torn Sudan.
The Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Isa Maishanu, disclosed this during a press briefing on the achievements of the Ministry of Higher Education and its parastatals under the administration of Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto.
Professor Maishanu said the administration inherited a backlog of unpaid tuition and registration fees affecting students studying in both local and foreign institutions when it assumed office on May 29, 2023.
To address the challenge, he explained that the government established verification committees headed by the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Barrister Nasiru Aliyu Dantsoho, for domestic institutions, and the Secretary to the State Government for foreign institutions.
According to the Commissioner, the intervention led to the payment of ₦555 million to clear outstanding registration fees for the 2021/2022 academic session at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. He added that outstanding liabilities owed to ten universities in Sudan, Wisconsin University in Ghana, and Integral University in India were verified and fully settled.
Professor Maishanu further disclosed that the government resolved challenges faced by Sokoto State students transferred from Ukraine to Baze University, Abuja, enabling them to continue their education.
He said the administration also facilitated the resettlement of 72 students evacuated from war-torn Sudan, while 24 students graduated through a Memorandum of Understanding between Sudan International University and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.
In addition, nine final-year students were relocated to the Islamic University in Uganda to enable them to complete their respective programmes.
The Commissioner revealed that the total scholarship expenditure from 2023 to September 2026 amounted to ₦6,791,891,890. He gave the breakdown as ₦945 million in 2023, ₦3.08 billion in 2024, ₦2.08 billion in 2025, ₦605 million in 2026, and ₦67.2 million provided as individual assistance.
He explained that the expenditure covered tuition and registration fees, feeding, accommodation, and other approved educational expenses.
Professor Maishanu also disclosed that 22 students were sponsored to pursue science and technology programmes at Integral University in India and the University of Central Punjab in Pakistan as part of efforts to strengthen technical knowledge and develop skilled manpower for the state.
Beyond scholarship support, the Commissioner said the administration had implemented various capital projects across higher education institutions in Sokoto State to improve infrastructure and provide a more conducive teaching and learning environment.
He noted that the interventions reflected the government’s efforts to address challenges in the higher education sector, improve access to education, and strengthen the capacity of state owned institutions.
The briefing was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Ismaila Ibrahim Binji; the Provost of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Umaru Tambari Yabo; the Rector of Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, Suleiman Mindaudu; the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Sokoto State University, Professor Ubandawaki; as well as directors and deputy directors of the Ministry.
