Economic crisis: Sokoto withdraws students from foreign universities

The Sokoto state government has given approval for the transfer back home of 39 of its citizens currently in various schools in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Imam Imam, spokesman of Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state, disclosed this in a statement, the move will enable the government save over N500m.

“The government said this signals change of priorities in the payment of scholarship to study abroad,” read a statement issued by Imam.

“The transfer/relocation of the students was necessitated by the need to conserve funds and apply same to more critical areas in the education sector.

He added that admissions have been secured for all the students in Nigerian schools, while arrangements have been made to ensure that none of them misses a grade level upon their return home.

“As at the time we sent the children to Dubai to study last year, the state government was spending over 400 million naira per annum to maintain them there. The last administration had good intentions when it sent them to Dubai to further their studies, but the current financial situation of the state can no longer allow us to continue with this burden.

“We explained to the parents and guardians of the students that as at today, Sokoto state government spends over N500 million to maintain 17,000 of its citizens on scholarship in various schools in Nigeria. So having to pay N400 million for 38 students in Dubai was weighing heavily on the scarce resources of the state.

“We thank them for their understanding.”