Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the payment of N2.24 billion to clear outstanding tuition and accommodation fees for 84 students stranded in Northern Cyprus.
The students were part of a scholarship scheme initiated under the administration of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, but were left without support after the succeeding government discontinued the programme.
The affected students, who studied at Near East University, were unable to complete their education or collect their certificates due to the abrupt termination of the scheme under former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Some faced eviction, restricted access to classes, and legal threats over unpaid fees.
Governor Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, announced the intervention on Thursday, describing the payment as both a humanitarian and moral responsibility. “These students were Kano’s ambassadors abroad but were left to suffer humiliation. Today, we have corrected that wrong,” he stated.
The students’ families welcomed the development with relief. Aisha Umar, mother of one of the beneficiaries, said, “We suffered humiliation, begged, and cried. Today, Governor Abba has wiped our tears.”
The group includes 28 medical students, as well as others studying nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, biomedical sciences, computer science, and engineering. While many had completed their academic requirements, the unpaid fees prevented them from accessing their certificates.
In addition to clearing the debts, the governor has approved automatic employment for the returning graduates in the Kano State Civil Service to ensure their skills are utilised locally.
Education advocates, diaspora groups, and human rights organisations have commended the gesture. Hauwa Salihu of the Kano Diaspora Support Group said, “This action shows leadership and empathy. These students were victims of political neglect. Today, they are heroes welcomed home.”
The development has also sparked renewed calls for policy continuity in educational initiatives, with stakeholders urging future administrations to insulate scholarship programmes from political disruptions.
Governor Yusuf has made education a core priority since assuming office, with renewed investments in scholarships, school feeding programmes, and infrastructure.
Officials say arrangements are in progress to facilitate the safe return and reintegration of the affected students.
