Ex-Governors Donate N40m to Upgrade ABU Zaria, Laud FG’s Student Loan Scheme
Two former governors, Senator Adamu Aliero of Kebbi State and Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu of Bauchi State, have jointly donated N40 million towards the rehabilitation of facilities at the School of Basic Studies (SBS), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
Aliero and Mua’zu also commended the Federal Government for launching the student loan scheme to expand access to higher education.
Their donation was announced during the maiden reunion of the 1976/1977 set of the ABU School of Basic Studies (SBS) in Abuja, themed, “Together Again.”
Sen. Aliero and Alhaji Mu’azu, who are both alumni of the institution, pledged N20 million each to support infrastructure upgrades at their alma mater.
Aliero, who currently represents Kebbi Central in the National Assembly, praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for reviving educational support through the student loan initiative.
While acknowledging that the days of completely free education were gone, he said the scheme was a bold step toward easing the financial burden on Nigerian students.
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“A total of N500 billion has been earmarked for this student loan programme, and the National Assembly has given its approval. It may not be free education, but it shows serious commitment by this administration to support young Nigerians,” Aliero said.
Reflecting on the transformation of Nigeria’s education system, he recalled how the government once fully catered to student needs, including tuition, transportation, and even laundry.
He said economic shifts, rising population, and limited public resources had made such comprehensive support unsustainable.
On his part, Mu’azu, a former National Chairman of the PDP and current Chairman of the ABU SBS Board of Trustees, described the reunion as one of the happiest days of his life.
He emphasized the importance of alumni giving back and urged his peers to commit to even bigger development projects in ABU and other institutions.
“This is not just about nostalgia. It is about responsibility. We are what we are today because of what this school gave us, and it is only right that we give back,” he said.
Also lending his voice, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Karshi, Alhaji Ismaila Danladi Mohammad, called on private sector actors to collaborate with alumni associations to develop Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The President of the alumni association revealed that 144 members of the 1976/77 set had passed away since graduation.
Nonetheless, the cohort boasts accomplished figures including three former governors, an Emir, and several senior public servants and professionals.
