07/06/2026
BREAKING: 31,711 Students Benefit from Senator Yakubu Lado Dan Marke’s Scholarship Scheme in Katsina
Education stakeholders in Katsina State have called on wealthy individuals, corporate organizations, and public office holders to emulate Senator Yakubu Lado Dan Marke’s commitment to supporting education through scholarship initiatives aimed at assisting indigent students.
The appeal was made during a press conference where speakers emphasized that education remains the foundation of societal development and urged affluent members of society to invest more in the sector to help young people achieve their academic aspirations.
According to the stakeholders, the rising cost of tuition, educational materials, and the prevailing economic challenges have made access to higher education increasingly difficult for many families, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.
They noted that the scholarship foundation established by Senator Yakubu Lado Dan Marke has become a significant source of support for students from Katsina State studying in universities and tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Senator Dan Marke, a former Chairman of Kankara Local Government Area, former member of the House of Representatives, and former Senator representing Katsina South Senatorial District, was said to have established the foundation to ease the financial burden facing students and to ensure that economic hardship does not hinder their educational pursuits.
Data presented at the briefing revealed that since the inception of the scholarship programme in 2023, beneficiaries have been drawn from several institutions, including Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Bayero University Kano (BUK), Umaru Musa Yar’adua University Katsina (UMYUK), Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), Federal University Dutse (FUD), Federal College of Education Katsina, Federal College of Education Kano, Federal College of Education Zaria, Kaduna Polytechnic (KADPOLY), and Yusuf Bala Usman College, Daura.
The scholarship scheme covers students pursuing Diploma, HND, NCE, Undergraduate, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees, as well as those enrolled in Full-Time, Part-Time, Distance Learning, and Vocational Training programmes.
Stakeholders disclosed that available records indicate that 31,711 students benefited from the foundation’s scholarship programme between 2023 and 2026.
They further stated that financial records showed that more than ₦1.2 billion had been expended on the initiative within the period under review.
According to the speakers, the intervention has enabled thousands of students to continue their education despite the economic difficulties facing many Nigerian households.
They commended Senator Dan Marke for what they described as an outstanding contribution to educational development, noting that such interventions can significantly reduce school dropout rates caused by financial constraints.
The stakeholders also urged wealthy individuals, businesses, and development partners in Katsina State to adopt similar initiatives in order to expand educational opportunities for young people and contribute to the long-term development of the state and the nation.
They stressed the need for additional support mechanisms for students, particularly in addressing transportation challenges and other day-to-day difficulties encountered by those in tertiary institutions.
According to them, broader participation by philanthropists and corporate organizations in educational support programmes would play a critical role in strengthening the education sector and producing skilled, productive, and responsible citizens capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.
