Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has ended years of hardship for 84 stranded students in Northern Cyprus by paying off their outstanding tuition and accommodation fees, totaling ₦2.24 billion.
This decisive move clears the path for the release of academic certificates that had been withheld due to prolonged debts.
According to a statement signed by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director General of Media and Publicity to the Governor, the payment was made directly to Near East University, effectively resolving a crisis that had left many students locked out of classrooms, evicted from housing, and struggling to survive in a foreign land.
The affected students were originally part of a foreign scholarship scheme launched by former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, but financial support was abruptly suspended during the tenure of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. This left dozens of young Nigerians in academic limbo, with some facing harassment, ridicule, and even threats of deportation.
“The trauma these students faced was unbearable,” said Kabiru Ibrahim, the father of one of the students. “Some of them were harassed, ridiculed, and nearly deported. This intervention is not just financial—it is moral and humanitarian.”
The beneficiaries include 28 medical students and graduates in fields such as pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, engineering, computer science, and biomedical sciences—many of whom completed their programs years ago but were unable to access their certificates due to unpaid fees.
Governor Yusuf not only facilitated the payment but also took an unprecedented step by announcing the automatic employment of all returning graduates into the Kano State civil service.
“These young professionals are an asset to our state. We will not only welcome them home but also give them opportunities to contribute to our development,” said the Governor.
The news triggered widespread celebration across Kano State, with many parents moved to tears.
“This is the happiest day of my life,” said Fatima Suleiman, mother of one of the medical graduates. “I can finally hold my son’s certificate and see him begin his career.”
Human rights organizations and diaspora groups that had previously criticized the government’s neglect have lauded Governor Yusuf’s intervention.
“This is a clear example of leadership with empathy. These are lives restored, careers revived, and reputations redeemed,” said Musa Lawan, coordinator of a Nigerian student welfare group in Europe.
What you should know
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has settled ₦2.24 billion in unpaid fees for 84 students stranded in Cyprus, securing their certificates and ordering their automatic employment in the civil service.
The move has been hailed as a compassionate and visionary act that restores hope and dignity to the affected students and their families.
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