Kebbi to sponsor 70 students for degree programmes in Saudi Arabia
The Kebbi State Government has announced plans to sponsor 70 students to study conventional and religious degree programmes in Saudi Arabia.
The initiative is part of the ‘Kaura Capacity Building Project 2025′ under the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs.
Speaking at a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi, the Special Adviser, Engr. Imran bn Usman, said that 20 local government areas will nominate three students each while Birnin Kebbi local government will nominate 10 students.
“The Kebbi State Government will fund the students’ travel to Saudi Arabia, while the Saudi Government will take responsibility for their education and welfare upon arrival,” he said.
Engr. Imran further explained that only students under 18 years of age would be considered and must pass academic screening to meet the admission criteria set by the Saudi authorities.
“Saudi professional examiners are already in Kebbi State to conduct the required screening ahead of the students’ departure,” he added.
Each local government area is expected to nominate two male and one female candidate for first-degree programmes in either conventional faculties or Islamic religious studies.
In addition, the Special Adviser announced plans to send Imams of Jumu’a mosques abroad for short-term training in sermon delivery and Hadith, aimed at enhancing their impact during congregational prayers.
“Governor Dr Nasir Idris Kauran Gwandu remains deeply committed to promoting piety, religious values, and good governance. He has directed me to visit the embassies of Middle Eastern countries in Abuja to explore avenues for human development,” he said.
Engr. Imran revealed that he visited the embassies of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia as part of the outreach.
The visits, he said, facilitated arrangement for the visit of some specialists from Riyadh to conduct a medical outreach targeting 5,000 individuals with eye defects.
He added that the Saudi Embassy has also donated 10,000 copies of the Glorious Qur’an to Kebbi State as a gesture of appreciation.
