Education in Borno North has received a major boost as Distinguished Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, flagged off a fully funded foreign scholarship scheme for 11 young science graduates from the senatorial district. The groundbreaking initiative is the first legislature-driven international scholarship package in the history of Borno State.
The programme, initiated under the M.T. Monguno Foreign Scholarship Scheme, is a direct intervention aimed at rebuilding Northern Borno, a region that has for years endured the devastating impact of insurgency. It aligns with the broader vision of Governor Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, who has consistently prioritized education as a critical tool for recovery, stability, and growth in the state.
The beneficiaries of the programme were selected purely on merit after passing through a transparent and rigorous screening exercise. Each candidate graduated with a Second Class Upper degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, and further distinguished themselves in an aptitude test conducted by an independent assessment committee.
They will now proceed to India for a two-year Master’s programme, with the first year dedicated to coursework and the second to research, culminating in the award of internationally recognized MSc degrees. The scholarship package, running into hundreds of millions of naira, will take care of tuition, living expenses, accommodation, laptops, and academic materials, as well as visa and travel requirements.
Senator Monguno, while presenting the awards, reaffirmed that education remains the cornerstone of rebuilding Northern Borno and committed himself to sustaining the programme annually. He maintained that the investment was not merely about academics, but about laying the foundation for a generation of highly skilled professionals who will contribute to the long-term development of the state and the nation.
“This initiative is a deliberate effort to empower our brightest youths with the tools to compete globally and return home to rebuild our communities. Northern Borno deserves no less, and we must continue to rise above the scars of insurgency through education and opportunity,” he said.
The scheme has been widely praised as a landmark initiative that underscores the far-reaching role of legislators in shaping human capital development. It is expected to inspire similar interventions across other senatorial districts and set new standards for legislative impact on education.
