Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has called for the reactivation of education scholarship system in the country.
Governor Umaru Bago made the call in Abuja, during the lunch of the Education Scholarship for Tertiary Institution, for Students of the Nigerian Army personnel organised by the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), late Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation in collaboration with the Nigerian Army.
The Governor, who recalled how he benefited from government scholarship from basic to tertiary institution, said the scholarship when reactivated would give hope to younger generations.
While appreciating the wife of the former COAS, Mrs. Fati Attahiru for establishing such foundation and the Army for collaborating with the foundation, said it is an opportunity for people to have their dreams fulfilled in life.
He encouraged the benefiting students to make judicious use of the opportunity and to continue to dream big in life.
The Governor then announced that Bago Foundation which is his personal foundation will upscale the number of the beneficiaries from 50 to 100 as his support.
Also speaking, the Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang who said the Nigerian Governors Forum appreciates Mrs. Fati Attahiru’s passion for education and general development for a better society, pledged the forum’s support for the foundation and called on the Nigerian Army to do more in empowering their wives to be self-reliant.
Earlier, the COAS, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who commended the wife of the former COAS, Mrs. Fati Attahiru, observed that the creation of the Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation has turned ash to beauty, sudden end, to new beginning.
He said collaborating with the Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation is a viable option that would complement the scholarship and welfare schemes of the Nigerian Army.
The COAS disclosed that 50 beneficiaries have been carefully selected for the inaugural edition of the scholarship, and promised to continue to partner with the foundation in identifying and screening of the beneficiaries as a mark of honour to late Lt Gen. Attahiru.
While recounting the significant policies with profound impact, especially in the counter insurgency operations implemented by the late COAS particularly in the North Eastern Nigeria, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja said the late Lt. Gen. Attahiru would always be remembered for his courage, doggedness, bravery and detribalised personality as they testaments of his belief in the Unity of the Nation.
Wife of the late former COAS and founder of the Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation, Mrs. Fati Attahiru said the establishment of the foundation was the best way she could immortalised her spouse considering his love for education.
She said the foundation would provide not only scholarship for the students, but mentorship also to make them beneficial to themselves and the larger society.
The Founder of the Foundation used the opportunity to address the benefiting students, using the lifestyle and history of her late husband as example, encouraging them to always dream big, embrace challenges and make the right choices in life.
In his remarks, the Secretary General of the Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation, Alh. Usman Shehu Bawa said that the Foundation which started 2 years after his demise was to continue his noble work for nation-building.
He explained that the scholarship scheme is aimed at extending a helping hand to deserving students, to foster their education, empower bright minds, and to enable them pursue their dreams and aspirations.
Also in their separate goodwill messages the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, the Corps Commander, Education, Nigeria Army, Maj. Gen. Bello Tsoho, National President of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), Mrs. Maria Abiodun Lagbaja, past President, Defence & Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Barr. Victoria Irabor all commended Mrs. Fati Attahiru for the foresight to establish the foundation and assured her of their unflinching support.
Highlights of the event were the symbolic presentation of cheque and special prayers for the late COAS Attahiru and other personnel who died in active service.
The 50 beneficiaries were the best students selected from Command Secondary Schools across the six geopolitical zones of the Country.
