FIC REPORT (KADUNA STATE) – The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Her Excellency Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charted an uncommon path in confronting the challenges that have militated against the growth and development of Nigeria’s economy.
Dr. Balarabe stated this at the inauguration of leaders of the Students’ Wing of the 19 Northern States of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), held at Arewa House, Kaduna.
The Deputy Governor, who represented the Kaduna State Governor, His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, as Special Guest of Honour at the ceremony, said the Tinubu administration had recorded significant interventions in critical sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, education and human capital development.
According to her, the administration’s interventions in education, particularly through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), had provided crucial support to many students who might otherwise have been forced to abandon their studies.
She explained that the initiative was not only supporting students to remain in school but was also providing opportunities for others to acquire relevant skills that could enable them to transition from dependency to self-reliance.
Dr. Balarabe noted that Northerners accounted for more than 60 per cent of NELFUND beneficiaries, describing the development as an indication of the benefits of the Federal Government’s interventions to young people across the region.
Drawing parallels between the Federal Government’s initiatives and developments in Kaduna State, the Deputy Governor said the administration of Governor Uba Sani had similarly prioritised education, skills acquisition and human capital development.
She said the Kaduna State Government had reduced fees in state-owned tertiary institutions, expanded infrastructure and invested in skills acquisition, vocational education and other programmes designed to empower young people and improve their prospects.
Dr. Balarabe urged the newly inaugurated student leaders to return to their various campuses and organise, mobilise, educate and engage their colleagues on the achievements of the Tinubu and Uba Sani administrations.
She said there was sufficient evidence of the achievements of both administrations to support meaningful engagement and mobilisation ahead of future elections.
The Deputy Governor also commended the students for voluntarily endorsing President Tinubu, describing the endorsement as significant and weighty.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of Arewa for Asiwaju and former Minister of Defence and Governor of Jigawa State, His Excellency Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru, said the support for President Tinubu was based not merely on promises but on measurable performance and achievements.
Badaru highlighted various Federal Government interventions targeted at Nigerian students, including measures aimed at addressing rising tuition costs and the disbursement of ₦282 billion to beneficiaries under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, among other initiatives.
The Director-General subsequently presented details of NELFUND disbursements to various institutions.
According to him, Kaduna State University (KASU) had benefited from more than ₦1 billion in support for cutting-edge technology and digital infrastructure.
Badaru further disclosed that the Tinubu administration was addressing accommodation challenges confronting students in tertiary institutions and working towards upgrading Nigerian campuses to world-class standards.
The ceremony featured goodwill messages and commitments from student representatives, who pledged to mobilise support for President Tinubu and ensure that such support translates into votes at the polls.
The inauguration brought together student leaders and supporters of the Arewa for Asiwaju movement from across the 19 Northern States, with participants expressing optimism about continued youth participation in national development and political mobilisation.
Signed:
Muhammad Gwani
AD FIRC KADUNA
14th September,2026.
