Kebbi Govt Sponsors 70 To Saudi Arabia For Religious, Conventional Degrees

From Ayodele Ajoge, Birnin-Kebbi

The Kebbi State Government has concluded arrangements to sponsor 70 students to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for conventional and religious degree programmes.

The initiative is part of the Governor’s Capacity Building Project 2025′ under the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, the Special Adviser, Engr. Imran bn Usman, disclosed that 20 local government areas in the state would each nominate three candidates, while Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, has been allocated 10 slots.

“The Kebbi State Government will fund the students’ travel to Saudi Arabia, while the Saudi Government will take responsibility for their education and welfare upon arrival,” he said.

Engr. Imran further explained that only students under 18 years of age would be considered and must pass academic screening to meet the admission criteria set by the Saudi authorities.

“Saudi professional examiners are already in Kebbi State to conduct the required screening ahead of the students’ departure,” he added.

Each local government area is expected to nominate two male and one female candidate for first-degree programmes in either conventional faculties or Islamic religious studies.

In addition, the Special Adviser announced plans to send Imams of Jumu’a mosques abroad for short-term training in sermon delivery and Hadith, aimed at enhancing their impact during congregational prayers.

Specialists from Riyadh are scheduled to visit Kebbi for a medical outreach, targeting 5,000 individuals with eye defects who will receive free treatment, including eyeglasses and optics.

The Saudi Embassy has also donated 10,000 copies of the Glorious Qur’an to Kebbi State as a gesture of appreciation.