By correspondent in Zaria.
The International Studies Alumni Association, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria at the weekend put smiles on the faces of 24 indigent students of the Department of Political Science and International Studies of the university.
The Association National Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Abdullahi Shuaibu made this known in a statement made available to the reporters in Zaria.
Shuaibu said the gesture was part of the Association’s efforts to relieve hardship for the indigent students during their academic programme.
The PRO stated that ABU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, in conjunction with the Association National President, Ambassador Muntari Kaita, presented each of the beneficiaries with their letters of the scholarship award.
He quoted Ambassador Kaita as saying that, “we have in the last two weeks disbursed the scholarship entitlements to each of the students in order to meet up with the financial commitments.”
The President disclosed that the scholarship covers course registration and tuition expenses.
The Association executives had prelude to the presentation ceremony paid an appreciation visit on the ABU Vice-Chancellor.
Ambassador Kaita appreciated the Vice-Chancellor for the support given to the Association, stressing that whatever they achieved was because of the enormous support they enjoyed from him.
The President also commended the Vice-Chancellor for the successes recorded since his assumption of office despite the critical challenges of electricity bills and other problems faced by the University.
He intimated the Vice-Chancellor on the progress made on the renovation of the e-Library at the Department of Political Science and International Studies.
Kaita expressed optimism that it would be completed before the end of this month for it to be inaugurated before leaving as the Vice-Chancellor.
He also said the association was planning a symposium in September this year in honour of former Deans of the defunct Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), which was refuted as the university’s hotbed for academic exercise and debates.
He consoled the Vice-Chancellor and the University Community over the demise of the Deputy Registrar (Alumni Relations and Advancement), Malam Bashir Munnir.
Kaita further thanked the University Management, the Head of Department and the lecturers for their unwavering support towards the success of the activities of the association.
In his remarks, the ABU Vice-Chancellor, Prof.Kabir Bala, lauded the Association for being one of the most active Alumni organization in the university.
He emphasized that since his contact with the Association, “the executive members have been very serious and focused on their objectives and giving back to to the Alma Mater.”
The VC expressed gratitude to the association for renovating the departmental library, describing the gesture as commendable.
He maintained that the forthcoming symposium of the association was a welcome development.
This, according to him, underscored that the then Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) was the centre of attraction in ABU, which had shaped so many discussions and government policies in the country.
He used the occasion to urge other alumni groups to emulate the ABU International Studies Alumni Association in giving back to the university.
The Association which was established in 2021 in Abuja, consisted of retired diplomats, academicians, diplomatic journalists and other professionals, who graduated from the University International Studies Programme.
It had remained committed in addressing challenges facing the Department of Political Science and International Studies and the university in general.
