Tertiary Education: Gov Idris Sponsors 35 Kebbi Students to Study Medicine in Ethiopia
Tertiary Education: Gov Idris Sponsors 35 Kebbi Students to Study Medicine in Ethiopia
By our Reporter
The Kebbi State Government, under the visionary leadership of Governor Nasir Idris, has secured admission for 35 indigenes of the state to study Medicine at the Pioneer University of Science, Ethiopia.
The six-year programme, approved by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) Education & Training Authority (ETA), is designed to train beneficiaries to become fully qualified medical doctors.
Speaking on Thursday, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Architect Muhammad Sani Aliyu stated that the selected students were drawn from across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state after undergoing a rigorous screening exercise in line with the criteria set by the Ethiopian authorities.
The Commissioner applauded the Governor’s foresight in prioritising the training, employment and development of medical personnel in the state.
He explained that although the Ethiopian university initially offered five free slots to kebbi state, Governor Idris in his compassion and commitment to healthcare development, approved the sponsorship of an additional 30 students, bringing the total number to 35.
He added that, in the near future, Kebbi State would not only produce enough medical doctors to meet its needs but also contribute significantly to Nigeria’s medical workforce.
The Special Adviser to the Kebbi State Governor on Religious Affairs, Engr. Imrana Usman further explained the magnanimity of the Governor in approving the sponsorship and the criteria for the selection.
“The programme spans six years, and Ethiopia allocated 35 slots to Kebbi State. The Ministry of Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education, given the religious correlation of the Ethiopian admission, worked diligently to ensure qualified candidates emerged,” he said.
He noted that all selected students had outstanding academic records, particularly in their 2024 WAEC results, which formed a major part of the selection criteria.
Engr. Imrana further disclosed that the entire programme is fully sponsored by Governor Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, adding that the students are expected to depart for Ethiopia later this month to commence their studies.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Idris for granting children from less-privileged backgrounds the opportunity to be part of the programme as well as acquire quality education, and be part of this life changing initiative, regardless their social status.
It will be recalled that both the Commissioner for Religious Affairs and the Special Adviser on Religious Affairs travelled to Ethiopia in November 2025 to inspect the university’s facilities on the directive of Governor Nasir Idris.
This development underscores Governor Idris’ unwavering commitment to transforming the health sector through sustained investment in human capital development, modern medical facilities, and the renovation of hospitals and primary healthcare centres across the state.
