The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has explained that he sponsored 70 students to study Artificial Intelligence (AI), Forensic Science, and Robotics abroad as part of his efforts to bridge the gaps in these fields and accelerate Nigeria’s development.
Speaking at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport on Sunday, as the students prepared to depart on Ethiopian Airlines, Barau said the initiative was aimed at addressing challenges within Nigeria’s education sector.
He also gave each beneficiary 200 dollars as part of their support for the journey.
“The major challenge in the education of our youth, particularly in the northwestern part of Nigeria, is that although we have a large youth population, they are not adequately educated. I believe that educating our youth is the key to solving our problems,” Barau stated.
He emphasized that human capital development is crucial to national progress, noting that the initiative complements the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in providing educational opportunities to disadvantaged students who lack the financial resources to pursue their education.
Barau revealed that upon completing their studies, the beneficiaries would be empowered to become self-sufficient by establishing their own businesses.
He assured that the sponsorship would continue annually, with more students set to benefit in subsequent batches.
A total of 70 students, consisting of 65 males and 5 females from the three senatorial districts of Kano State, were offered admission to pursue higher degrees in AI, Cybersecurity, and Robotics Science at international institutions.
The first batch of students began their journey at exactly 1:20pm on Sunday.
In September 2024, Senator Barau had presented the admission letters to the students, underlining his commitment to supporting the educational growth of the youth in his constituency.
