The Chairman of Dantata Group of Companies and an elder statesman, Aminu Dantata, has awarded 4-year full scholarships to 100 less-privileged students to study different courses at the newly established Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila.
Mr Dantata, who said the scholarships were part of his contribution to address educational challenges in the country, promised to make full payment at once.
During a courtesy visit by the Governing Board and the Planning Committee of the university in Kano, Mr Dantata expressed delight at the establishment of the university, which he said would create a lot of employment for the people and address admission difficulties faced by students.
He was particularly elated that Al-Istiqama University was established in Sumaila, Kano State, with Prof. Salisu Shehu as the pioneer Vice Chancellor, commending the management of the institution for introducing meaningful courses in its first year of operation.
He said the introduction of Islamic moral education as general studies would help in curtailing the challenge of moral decadence in society, while various entrepreneurship courses would also aid self-reliance among students.
While commending the founder and promoter Al-Istiqama University, Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu-Sumaila, Mr Dantata called on other wealthy individuals to emulate the founder.
He thanked the National Universities Commission, NUC, for approving Al-Istiqama University, alongside 19 others, noting that their establishments would address the myriad of challenges in gaining admission into higher institutions of learning.
He called on governments at all levels as well as wealthy Nigerians to imbibe the habit of awarding scholarships to the children of the less-privileged.
Speaking earlier, Mr Kawu-Sumaila, who is the immediate past Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Reps), thanked Mr Dantata for his gesture.
Mr Kawu-Sumaila, a former two-term Deputy Minority Leader of the Green Chamber, said the university was ready to give discounts to students, especially during its first admission exercise, which will commence any moment from now.
According to him, some of the courses introduced by the university are Islamic Studies, Economics, Accounting, Taxation, Entrepreneurship Studies, Political Science, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Physics with Electronics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, among others.
