By Talatu Maiwada, NAN Yola
Yola, Nov. 5, 2026 (NAN) Dr Mustapha Salihu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial aspirant for Adamawa Central Senatorial District, has donated 40,000 learning materials to 70 public schools and offered scholarships to two pupils.
Salihu announced the intervention at the inauguration of the distribution of the materials to public basic education schools on Thursday in Yola.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the intervention was implemented under the “Kowa Namu Ne” 2027 Movement in collaboration with the Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (ADSUBEB).
Salihu urged pupils to remain committed to their studies, saying determination and hard work were essential to achieving their aspirations.
He said he had awarded scholarships to a boy and a girl who delivered the vote of thanks at the event.
According to him, the scholarships would cover their education from primary to tertiary levels, while he would also sponsor the girl’s wedding when she reached marriageable age.
He commended Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri for investing in education and acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to support students in tertiary institutions.
Salihu said the intervention reflected his commitment to supporting education and ensuring that pupils had access to essential learning materials.
The Convener of the initiative, Dr Ummul Hamman, said it was designed to complement government efforts and support ADSUBEB in improving basic education.
She said the first phase would cover 70 schools across seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Adamawa Central Senatorial District, with 10 schools selected from each LGA.
“We appreciate Dr Salihu for providing these materials, borne out of his belief that no child should lack the basic tools needed to learn,” she said.
Hamman commended Fintiri for prioritising education through free education, classroom construction and renovation across the state.
She said the administration had constructed more than 25,000 classrooms, recruited qualified teachers, increased teachers’ salaries and provided counterpart funding for Universal Basic Education programmes.
She also acknowledged the government’s efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve access to quality education.
Hamman assured beneficiaries that the initiative would be sustained and extended to other LGAs in the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Aisha Umar, commended Salihu for the intervention and urged other political aspirants to emulate the gesture.
Umar said the materials would support teaching and learning and complement the ministry’s efforts to improve basic education delivery.
Similarly, the Director of Academic Services, ADSUBEB, Hajiya Zainab Saleh, described the intervention as timely, saying it would reduce parents’ financial burden and improve learning outcomes.
Saleh urged pupils to use the materials judiciously and take their studies seriously, while encouraging well-meaning Nigerians to invest in education. (NAN)
