Former Governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has described education as the most enduring legacy any leader can leave, as beneficiaries of the Kwankwasiyya scholarship programme gathered in Kano for their maiden annual convention.
Speaking at the event, Kwankwaso said the gathering marked a historic moment for Kano State and Nigeria, bringing together scholars sponsored over nearly 25 years. He thanked God for the opportunity to witness what he described as the visible impact of sustained investment in human capital. “I remember many of you when you were very young, some straight from the villages. Today, I see confidence, professionalism and even grey hair,” he said, drawing applause from the audience.
Kwankwaso, who governed Kano State for eight years, explained that after government sponsorship of foreign students ended following the 2019 general elections, he personally continued the programme through the Kwankwasiyya Development Foundation (KDF). He disclosed that he sold several personal properties across Lagos, Kaduna, Sokoto, Adamawa and other states to fund the overseas education of 370 young men and women from Kano State.
According to records from the Kwankwasiyya Scholars Assembly (KSA), the scholarship scheme has supported more than 3,000 students in 14 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The programme has produced hundreds of medical doctors and specialists, scores of pilots and aviation professionals, thousands of engineers and ICT experts, as well as academics and researchers, with over 300 PhD holders unveiled at the convention.
Kwankwaso said the foundation tracks and mentors its scholars, integrating them into public service and national development. He encouraged beneficiaries to participate in politics and governance at all levels, cautioning against elitism and detachment from the grassroots. “It is not fair for someone with a PhD or Master’s degree to feel too big to serve at the ward level,” he said, expressing hope that the future could produce a Scholar-Governor and even a Scholar-President.
He commended Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for appointing several scholars as commissioners, advisers and senior aides, and called for proper documentation of all beneficiaries to improve coordination and digital engagement.
Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo described the scholarship initiative as one of the most impactful human-capital interventions in Nigeria’s history. National President of the Kwankwasiyya Scholars Assembly, Dr. Mansur Hassan, also hailed the convention as a defining moment, describing the programme as unprecedented in scale and impact.
The convention featured plans to establish a Kwankwasiyya Scholars Assembly Research Institute to promote evidence-based governance, innovation and policy development. Scholars also appealed for the absorption of unemployed beneficiaries in the state’s proposed recruitment of 1,000 professionals.
The event concluded with award presentations, goodwill messages from scholars across the globe, testimonials on the programme’s transformative impact, and prayers for the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Kano State and Nigeria.
