No fewer than 25,000 Kano State students who gained admission into tertiary institutions in the last academic session across the country applied for the state government’s sponsorship.

The Executive Secretary of the state’s Scholarship Board, Alhaji Usman Ririwai, made the disclosure when he visited the Sa’adu Rimi College of Education, Kano, where the scholarship interview was being conducted on Wednesday.

He said the interview, which commenced last week, was for students admitted during the
2011/2012 academic session. According to him, the board has earmarked N1 billion this year for the payment of scholarship allowances to students.

He said “we have so far paid outstanding allowances amounting to N360 million to 95 per cent of the students in respect of 2009/2010 and 2011/2012 academic sessions.

“Before the end of this year, we will pay the remaining five per cent.”

The executive secretary said a total of 3,300 eligible students underwent the interview at the venue.