From Kano to the Future: Barau Sends 70 Youths to India for AI and Robotics Studies

By Achimi Muktar

In a remarkable push to equip Nigerian youth with cutting-edge skills, Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin has sponsored 70 students from Kano State to pursue Master’s degrees in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics Engineering, and related fields in India.

At a send-off ceremony held in Kano, the senator emphasized his unwavering commitment to empowering young Nigerians through education. He pledged to continue identifying and supporting deserving students regardless of their social, economic, or political backgrounds.

A Vision for Growth

“I will continue to sponsor qualified students for Master’s degrees, ensuring they gain the knowledge needed to transform their lives and contribute to the development of Kano State and Nigeria,” Senator Jibrin stated.

Urging the students to be exemplary ambassadors during their stay in India, he encouraged them to focus on their studies and excel in their fields. “Your success is not just for you; it is for your families, your state, and our nation,” he added.

Merit-Based Selection

The senator highlighted the transparent and merit-based selection process for the scholarships, emphasizing that political or economic affiliations played no role in choosing the beneficiaries.

“I don’t know any of you personally,” he said. “You were selected purely on merit, and I expect you to justify this opportunity through hard work and dedication.”

A Broader Impact

The State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Abdullahi Abbas, lauded the initiative as a transformative step for the youth of Kano. He expressed confidence that the skills acquired by these students would contribute significantly to the state’s and nation’s development.

Abbas also hinted at plans to replicate such programs if the APC regains power in Kano State by 2027. “This initiative sets a benchmark for future governance,” he said, encouraging the students to maximize this opportunity.

Empowering the Future

Under the Barau Jibrin Foundation, the scholarship program provided the students with comprehensive travel packages, including travel documents, laptop computers, hijabs for the female students, and copies of the Holy Qur’an.

This holistic support aims to prepare the students not just academically but also spiritually and technologically for their journey.

Charting New Horizons

As these 70 bright minds embark on their educational journey, they carry the hopes of their families and communities. This initiative underscores the potential of targeted educational investments to shape a future where Nigerian youth are equipped to lead in technology and innovation.

For Kano State and Nigeria at large, this program is more than a scholarship—it’s a blueprint for how education can drive socio-economic transformation.