Senator Sunday Katung (PDP–Kaduna South) has awarded ₦40 million in scholarships to 400 underprivileged students from his constituency, in a move aimed at easing the financial burden of pursuing higher education.
The scholarship funds, distributed through the Sunday Marshall Katung Foundation, provided each beneficiary with ₦100,000 to support their academic pursuits in various tertiary institutions.
Speaking during the award presentation ceremony held on Saturday in Kafanchan, the senator — represented by Bature Likoro, chairman of the Southern Kaduna Community Development Associations — said the initiative was intended to reduce the hardship faced by students and their families.
He described education as a transformative force, pledging to sustain the programme even beyond his term in the National Assembly.
The chairperson of the foundation’s scholarship committee, Gloria Ballason, revealed that the scheme received 3,125 applications, out of which 400 were selected after a thorough and transparent screening process. She explained that the beneficiaries were chosen based on both their academic performance and financial need.
“It is our hope that this support will make the difference between staying in school and dropping out,” Ms Ballason said.
Also speaking at the event, the committee’s secretary, Edward Auta, encouraged the government and well-meaning individuals to increase investment in education, highlighting its role in promoting equal access to learning. He advised beneficiaries to manage the scholarship funds wisely.
Delivering a keynote lecture titled “Mainstreaming STEM Education for National Development,” John La’ah underscored the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in driving innovation and progress.
“In recent development, scientists have agreed that STEM is going to be the game changer, and it is important for us to know this,” he stated.
Two recipients of the scholarship, Zingina Precious and Omega Enoch, expressed their gratitude on behalf of the beneficiaries. They described the support as a timely intervention that has renewed their hope, and they offered prayers for continued grace and strength for Senator Katung to keep supporting education and the less privileged.
