Katsina Launches N328 million Scholarship for 650 Medical Students

Inaugurates DDR Committee to Drive Peace and Reintegration Efforts

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Katsina State Government has disbursed N328,123,392.35 for phase I of the 2026 Medical Students’ Allowance Scheme, which will support 650 medical students enrolled in 33 accredited universities within Nigeria and abroad.

It also inaugurated the state Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Peace and Security Committee, which will coordinate peace‑building and non‑kinetic security interventions across the state.

Dr. Muhammad Nazir Shehu, General Manager of the Katsina State Hospital Services Management Board (KTHSMB), announced the allocation in a statement signed by Board Secretary Abu Usman. He said Governor Dikko Umaru Radda approved the initiative, underscoring the administration’s commitment to strengthening human capital in the health sector.

Shehu explained that the allowance is intended to ease the financial burdens faced by the students during their academic and professional training.

“This is a strategic investment by the Katsina State Government to build a competent, resilient, and service‑oriented healthcare workforce capable of meeting the evolving health needs of Katsina State and the nation,” he added.

He pledged to ensure proper management and transparent distribution of the scholarship funds, describing the scheme as a deliberate investment in workforce development.

Shehu further noted that the Radda‑led government’s scholarship programme aims to produce professionals equipped to tackle the state’s changing health challenges.

He urged beneficiaries to use the support wisely and to maintain academic excellence, adding that future phases of the allowance scheme would be announced to further aid students.

Shehu said, “Students are expected to maintain professionalism and ethical conduct in line with the expectations and vision of the Katsina State Government.”

Meanwhile, the state DDR Peace and Security Committee, established under the Office of the National Security Adviser, was inaugurated by Governor Radda at the Red Chamber of Muhammadu Buhari House in Katsina.

During the unveiling, Radda stated that the committee is part of a national framework developed by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in partnership with the United Kingdom Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (UK‑SPRING) programme.

Headed by Secretary to the Katsina State Government Barrister Abdullahi Garba Faskari, the committee is expected to promote sustainable peace and stability throughout the state.

Radda explained that Katsina was chosen as one of the pilot states because of its commitment to community‑driven security engagement and non‑violent approaches to addressing insecurity.

The DDR framework is designed to facilitate disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals and groups willing to abandon violence and embrace peaceful coexistence.

He outlined the committee’s terms of reference, which include advising the state government and security council on disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration, peacebuilding and security coordination.

“The committee is mandated to oversee the profiling