The Kaduna State Government has approved full sponsorship for approximately 5,000 public school students to sit for the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE).
The initiative, personally approved by Governor Uba Sani, will cover both the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees for eligible candidates.
The selection process will prioritize academic merit, with beneficiaries chosen based on their performance in the recently conducted SS3 Mock Examinations administered by the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA).
Additional criteria will ensure the opportunity reaches the most deserving students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Professor Usman Abubakar-Zaria, Director-General of KSSQAA, described the intervention as a strategic investment in Kadunaโs human capital development.
“This decision by His Excellency is both timely and strategic,” Professor Abubakar-Zaria said. “It is not just about paying examination fees – it is about reassuring hope, reducing dropout rates, curbing social vices, and enhancing academic performance. Most importantly, it underscores the Governor’s resolve to democratize access to education and promote human capital development across Kaduna State.
The initiative builds on the stateโs earlier sponsorship of 175,752 candidates, including orphans and hybrid CBT examinees, during the 2023/2024 academic session.
He explained that Governor Saniโs administration has consistently prioritized education as a cornerstone of its development agenda, noting that this latest intervention reaffirmed the governmentโs pledge to ensure no child is denied academic opportunities due to financial constraints.
Professor Abubakar-Zaria called for collaborative efforts among schools, parents, and communities to maximize the programโs impact, urging stakeholders to uphold standards that will position Kaduna as a model for educational excellence in Nigeria.
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