Bomba Dauda
The Youth Wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has called on the Kaduna State Government to urgently introduce a comprehensive scholarship scheme to assist indigenes seeking admission into the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia (FUASK).
The group expressed concern that the tuition fees charged by the institution — ranging from ₦160,000 to ₦250,000 per session, excluding acceptance and accommodation costs — are prohibitively high for average families in Kaduna State.
In a statement signed by its National Youth Coordinator, Comrade Solomon Simon, the SOKAPU Youth Wing said the fees threaten to exclude many bright and motivated youths from accessing tertiary education in critical technical and applied science fields.
“The programs offered at FUASK are vital for developing human capital in specialized sectors. Denying our young people access to such programs due to unaffordability is a disservice to the future development of Kaduna State and Nigeria at large,” the statement read.
The youth group recalled the “painful experience” under the previous administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, which saw tuition fees in state-owned institutions, including Kaduna State University (KASU), soar from below ₦30,000 to over ₦150,000.
However, the statement commended Governor Uba Sani for reviewing and reducing fees in state-owned institutions, describing it as a fulfillment of his campaign promise and a relief to struggling families.
SOKAPU Youth Wing urged the Governor to build on this achievement by:
Establishing a targeted scholarship scheme for indigenes admitted into FUASK to cover a substantial portion of their tuition fees; and
Reviewing and expanding financial aid through the Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board to reflect current economic realities and the high cost of specialized education.
“Education remains the most powerful tool for empowerment and poverty alleviation. No qualified indigene should be denied access to FUASK simply because of financial constraints,” SOKAPU emphasized
