*To enjoy free education up to tertiary level
* Kaduna govt gives scholarship to children, N10m to family of teacher who died in captivity.
By John Shiklam in Kaduna
Kaduna state governor, Senator Uba Sani, has granted scholarship to the 137 rescued Kuriga school children.On March 7, bandits invaded the LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School, Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state and abducted the children, including one of their teachers who later died in captivity.
On Sunday, March 24, the children were rescued by the military in collaboration with local authorities in the Dansadau forest in Zamfara state.The children were handed over to the governor by the Nigerian Army on March 25, at the Government House, Kaduna.Addressing the children on Thursday at the Government House, Kaduna, before their departure to Kuriga, Sani also announced a donation of N10million to the family of the teacher who died in captivity..
He said the state government will sponsor the education of the children of the late teacher – Abubakar, up to university level.One of late teacher’s children was among the abducted children.Sani said after the children were handed over by the military, they under went a three – day psychosocial therapy at the Kaduna Women and Children Shelter.He also promised to support the education of the children up to tertiary level in his private capacity through the Uba Sani Foundation“We saw the need to keep the children for this long because when they came on Sunday, it was observed that some of them needed some psychological support.“So, we had to engage the services of Psychologists and Medical Doctors to attend to them.
“Now, they have been given adequate psychosocial counseling and therapy. I am happy today that all the children are happy and they are in high spirit.“You are going back home to meet with your parents and other families members who are eager to see you. But, I want to assure you that all of you remain my children.
“As a result of this, I will be using Uba Sani Foundation, which has been in existence for the past 16 years to look after the education of all the 137 of you.“Our government will also be carrying out a lot of rehabilitation works both in the Kuriga community and the school.” I have already given directive to that effect. This is because Kuriga community is one of the most peaceful communities in Kaduna State.
“Also, the Kaduna State Government has taken a collective decision to support the family of Malam Abubakar, the teacher who died in captivity with N10million.“Because he has a very young family, the Kaduna State Government will be giving scholarship to his children until they finish secondary school and university,” the governor said.Sani promised to be visiting the children from time to time to monitor their progress.
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