By Kennedy Onyegbado.
The saying that ‘Not who you know but what you know’ might gradually become a reality in Nigeria. This is due to the new visionary, proactive, and more purposeful leadership of the new Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board; Hassan Rilwan who is being inspired by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s vision and leadership.
The Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board is a Government Establishment responsible for the provision of scholarship and loans to Students who are Kaduna Citizens. It reflects the governor’s commitment to challenging young people with leadership positions, giving youths the opportunity to learn public service by doing it.
The Kaduna State Government through the Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board offers scholarship which is based on meeting criteria. This is to serve as a means of relief in payment of tuition fees, accommodation fees, feeding and other needs of the students. It also helps to support the student towards achieving academic excellence.
The expression of the will of the Board to continue to carry out its mandate with no human interference and prejudice was evident during the meeting of the Executive Secretary and the parents of the 7 Sudan-bound students who recently left to join other fourteen students who are products of the partnership between the Board and the Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi Foundation.
At the meeting one of the beneficiaries’ parent recounted how he doubted and nearly punished his child when he told him he got a call to come and collect his scholarship award letter because they do not know anyone as the saying goes.
The meeting, which provided a veritable platform for the parents to meet one-on-one with the Executive Secretary for the first time, afforded the board the opportunity to intimate them on the vision and mission of the board as inspired by the Executive Governor; Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
While speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary; Mr. Hassan Rilwan noted thus: “We are simply carrying out our mandate as a Board inspired by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s vision for the Education system of the State. We are happy to give our best and being able to choose only the qualified because we have a leader who allows do our jobs without interference”.
Hassan further disclosed that in the Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board, what gets one scholarship, bursary or loan is not ‘who you know but what you know’. “We are determined to ensure we reduce human interface and subjectivity”, Mr Hassan added.
Generally, under the partnership agreement between the Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board and The Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi Foundation; the Foundation chooses the school of study, provides tuition and Accommodation while the Board selects the students, provides transportation and upkeep.
- Kennedy Onyegbado is a Publicist and Heads Ken-Gbados Concepts Limited; Email: gbadoka@yahoo.com
