By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Four outstanding students who excelled by scoring high marks in the 2024 Joint Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations have received the sum of N4 million as cash donations from the State Government.
The four students were recognised for scoring highest marks in the 2024 examinations out of the number that wrote the exams .
Speaking during the presentation of the cash gift to the students in Bauchi on Tuesday, State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed said that the gesture was to encourage others to sit tight with the intention of excelling in their academic pursuits.
According to him, each of the students would be given the sum of N1 million, hoping it would help in securing admissions into their various choice of higher institutions.
Represented by the Head of the Civil Service, Alh. Yahuza Adamu, Bala Mohammed said that the gesture has shown the commitment of the state government in investing in human capital development.
According to him, “Human capital development is the antidote for every development and If you want to destroy a generation, a country or a nation, just destroy their education system and that’s all. No need to carry a gun or any ammunition.”
He stressed that, “Once the people are not educated, they are already destroyed and this is why the government has been working round the clock to see that education is not only given the attention but also, has been given the greatest priority.”
The Governor added that, “If somebody can sit in Bauchi state and score 348, that tells you that our education is working and if these four can do it, it means we have so many others that have the potential to do it also.”
“I’m requesting for the staff of the Ministry of Education to go back and see how we can reciprocate what the governor is doing by bringing more of these students to the front burner so that tomorrow, we will have like 40 of Bauchi indigenes that scored over 300 in JAMB,” The Governor added.
He then congratulated the students, their parents and urged all the students of Bauchi state origin to sit up and aspire to surpass the awarded students.
Also speaking, Alh. Ali Babayo, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, lauded the governor for creating an enabling environment for the implementation of all the education policies in the state.
Ali Babayo added that, “The journey started some months ago when we presented our request to the JAMB office to give us the names of four outstanding students of Bauchi state indigenes that performed wonderfully in the 2024 examination.”
According to him, “They honoured our request and submitted to us the names of the four students who scored the highest mark in the JAMB examination.”
“This gesture is to encourage the students and set a good example for others to emulate, especially those who are about to sit for the same examination,” he said.
He revealed the names of the students to include; Kawthar Shehu who scored the highest number of 348, Geoffrey Yakubu with 347, Abdullahi Garba, who scored 347 and Magaji Umar with 333.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of the parents of the students, Malam Ali Garba, appreciated the state government for the kind gesture and said that the money would help them in their academic endeavours in their various high institutions.
