Kano extends bilateral agreement signed with France on scholarship

By Abdul Isah Kano State Government has pledged to facilitate a partnership between the state-owned higher institutions and their counterparts in France to improve their effectiveness.

The State Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr Mariya Yahya Bunkure stated this in an interview with newsmen, shortly after a meeting with French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jerome Pasquier, on Monday.

Bunkure said that the state Government spends over 200 million naira annually to train its students in France.

“We spend a huge amount of money for their tuition fees and upkeep because we have to make sure they are comfortable while they study.”We want to give them the best education, so their students back here can have the best too, ‘’Dr.  Bunkure.

She said, “I just came back from France two days ago, on a directive by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to extend the signed agreement on the program till 2024.” “This is to ensure the successful graduation of the set of students we sent at the moment and to give room for at least one more set to benefit from the gesture.

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She further explained that in the course of the bilateral agreement signed between Kano state and the French Government in 2016, more than 70 students have been trained through 1st to 3rd degrees in some of the most prestigious universities in France.

On his part, French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jerome Pasquier said that under the agreement, the French Government pays the social security funds for the students as well as sourcing their accommodation throughout their stay in the country.

He expressed happiness over the extension of the contract, which he said will widen the benefits of the bilateral agreement between Kano state and the European Nation.

He noted that “It gives me great joy to know that the beneficiaries are doing better in their respective fields since their graduation from our universities.” We hope to sustain this partnership to another 10 years and beyond.”

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The Provost of Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education Dr Yahya Isa Bunkure said the capacity built in some of the lecturers who benefitted from the program in his institution cannot go unnoticed as they drive effective productivity in their respective departments.

Also, Vice-Chancellor of Kano state University of Science and Technology Wudil, Prof. Shehu Musa Alhaji pleaded with the Kano State Government to hasten the partnership between the state-owned higher institutions and the French Government so as to improve the ratings of the schools both on the national and international stage.