From left: Gov. Kashim Shettima, Galadima Zakari and mother, Jummai, at Borno State Government House on Tuesday

Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Tuesday granted scholarship to Galadima Zakari, the best candidate in the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to study Electrical Engineering at Covenent University, Ota, Ogun State.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Aug. 5, announced that Zakari from Biu in Borno State scored 364 points to emerge the overall best in the 2018 UTME.

The governor announced a N5 million scholarship award to Zakari in Maiduguri when he invited the student and his Mother, Jummai, in his office.

Shettima said “it is my honour to meet the overall best candidate in the 2018 UTME who is an indigene of Borno.

“As the governor of Borno, I must say that I am proud of this young man, an orphan raised by a single parent by coming first nationwide after scoring 364 in the 2018 UTME.

“We must identify with our son, who defied all odds to become victorious.”

The governor, who approved the scholarship to enable Zakari to pay his tuition fee, added that he would not want the student to encounter any difficulties.

He said “Zakari, as his mother told us, was raised as an orphan. The mother lost her husband who was a Major in the Nigerian Army about 14 years ago.

“As a mother, she has done her part by raising a child with excellence and that child has made Borno proud. It is our turn to support him.

“I will suggest that the mother pays all the fees upfront to avoid any tuition increase in future.”

The mother thanked the governor for recognising her son and for the scholarship award to enable the student to complete his tertiary education and recounted difficulties she went through after the death of her husband.

She said “I also want to thank Nigerians for their support, prayers and show of love to me and my son. May Almighty God reward all of you.”

Zakari also thanked Shettima for the scholarship, noting that the award would greatly take off the burden from his mother.

He promised to make the governor and Borno proud in the university.