Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
Over 1.5 million students under the auspices of Nigerian Union of Borno State Students (NUBOSS) have endorsed Governor Kashim Shettima to contest the Central Senatorial District elections next year. Shettima’s endorsement for the senatorial aspirant, were based on according the education sector top most priority with N17 billion allocations in 2018 budget. Announcing the endorsement at a merit award ceremony on Saturday in Maiduguri, the President of NUBOSS, Mohammed Alkali said the accord of priority to the education sector, will address brain drain that was escalated by Boko Haram insurgency. The students also at the honorary merit award; presented an award to Speaker of State House of Assembly,Abdulkareem Lawan for sponsoring 800 students to study in different programmes at primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the country. “Over 150 other students are also undergoing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training in the state,” he said. Speaking on Shettima’s endorsement, Alkali said: “After due consultation and inspection tour to various public schools that were affected by Boko Haram insurgency, the union discovered that most of the destroyed schools were completely rehabilitated with new ones. “This new development in the state’s education sector could not have been achieved without the good working relationship that exists between the Executives and the Legislature under the leadership of the Speaker, Hon. Lawan.” “In addition to improving the standard of education with enhancement of our welfare through prompt payments scholarships, we therefore endorse total support for Governor Shettima to contest the Borno Central Senatorial District in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.” The Students union also declared its unflinching support to Hon. Lawal and Mohammed Monguno, representing Marte/Monguno/Nganzai federal constituency at the National Assembly. “We are here today (Saturaday) to honor some of our prominent personalities in the likes of Borno State Speaker House of Assembly,Abdulkareem Lawan, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, representing Marte/Monguno/Nganzai Federal Constituency among others for their contributions in uplifting the education sector in the state,” he said. According to him, the union recognized the commitments of Governor Shettima for according priority to the comprehensive revamp of the education sector. On recent achievements, he said: “Even last week, the Governor awarded N5 million scholarship to Galadima Israel Zakari; who scored the highest results (364 points) nationwide in the concluded 2018 Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) Examination. Israel is to study Electrical Engineering Degree Course at Covenant University, Otta, in Ogun State.” In an acceptance speech on behalf of other recipients, Lawal thanked students’ union for recognizing them for the award. The legislator pledged to partner with the three arms of government students’ union to continue uplift the standard of education in the state.
