Kwankwaso Unveils Over 300 PhD Holders at Kano Scholars’ Convention

Former Governor of Kano State and national leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on Thursday unveiled more than 300 PhD‑degree holders at the maiden Kwankwasiyya Scholars’ Convention held in Kano. 

The historic gathering marked a major milestone for the scholarship programme that has operated for nearly 25 years, supporting thousands of young Nigerians through advanced education both at home and abroad. 

Kwankwaso, who described education as a lasting legacy of leadership, hailed the achievement as evidence of sustained investment in human capital and a key measure of good governance. He noted that many of the scholars were once young, rural students and today stand as professionals with advanced academic credentials. 

Speaking at the event, Kwankwaso revealed that after the discontinuation of government‑sponsored foreign scholarships following the 2019 elections, he personally committed to sustaining the programme through the Kwankwasiyya Development Foundation even selling personal properties to fund scholarships. 

Before this phase, the initiative had already sponsored over 3,000 students to study in 14 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East in disciplines ranging from medicine and engineering to ICT and aviation. 

Kwankwaso emphasized that the foundation’s goal extends beyond academic support to include tracking, mentoring, and helping scholars integrate into public service and national development roles. He encouraged graduates to engage in governance and warned against elitism, stressing that service even at the grassroots is essential. 

The event also featured commendations from Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who has appointed several scholars to government positions, and from Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo, who described the scholarship scheme as one of Nigeria’s most impactful human‑capital development interventions. 

Dr. Mansur Hassan, National President of the Kwankwasiyya Scholars Assembly, called the convention a defining moment and one of the most unprecedented scholarship initiatives in the nation’s history. 

The convention included award presentations, testimonies from beneficiaries, and messages of goodwill, celebrating the achievements of the scholars and highlighting the programme’s long‑term impact on education and leadership development in Kano and beyond.