…. ABS Foundation will now sponsor brilliant students for master’s degrees every year
Nigerian intelligentsia must get involved and ensure that they vote during elections, by doing this, they will help to prevent the emergence of incompetent leaders, former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has said.
While noting that followership was as important as leadership, Saraki opined that intellectuals participating in elections will definitely take informed decisions and not be easily swayed by people.
‘If you leave voting for those who will collect five hundred naira we will not have leaders who understand what it takes’ he said.
Saraki said this on Friday night while addressing the Kwara Class of Honours who converged on his GRA, Ilorin residence to thank him for the kind gesture extended to them five years ago and to also congratulate him on his 59th birthday.
The former Senate President turns 59 tomorrow, 19 December.
The Kwara Class of Honours comprises 72 Kwarans who got first-class honours degree and were awarded scholarship and given five hundred thousand naira each by Saraki in 2016 .
Leader of the 2016 scholarship recipients, Abdulkarin Bola Rasheed had while giving his speech gleefully announced that seventy five percent of the scholarship recipients have since received their master’s degree and were about getting their PhD or other professional qualifications.
He said the 2016 scholarship recipients had looked forward to having the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to the former senate president and let him know that his kind gesture was deeply appreciated. They were thus, happy having the opportunity to finally do this.
Saraki noted that nothing had moved him this year like getting to know that the 2016 scholarship recipients had made good use of the opportunity.
He thanked them for doing him proud while emphasizing the need for everyone to support brilliant and intelligent young people in the society in order that they can reach their full potentials.
He urged the 2016 scholarship recipients to give hope to others and have mentoring relationship with them.
Saraki, who noted that he was impressed by what the 2016 scholarship recipients have done, announced that the ABS Foundation will from now sponsor brilliant students for master’s degrees every year.
The scholarship recipients including Yusuf Wasiu, Abdulateef Muminah Mujaidah , Habeeb Ahmed Jamiu ,Isah Funsho Habeeb, Abdul Kareem Bola Rasheed, who had in-person and virtual attendance, took turns to speak and said the financial support they got in 2016 courtesy of Saraki made them climb up the ladder.
They later presented thank-you letter to the former senate president and also wished him a happy birthday.
In their separate speeches, Alhaji Ahmed Abaya and Alhaji Abdulkareem Funsho Owolabi ,who spoke on behalf of the parents of the scholarship recipients , commended Saraki for supporting the young Kwarans.
They noted that majority of them may not have pursued their master’s degree if they had not gotten the support that came courtesy of Saraki.
