Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, and his running mate, Baba-Ahmed Datti, have extended a university scholarship to Auwalu Salisu, a 22-year-old tricycle rider from Kano. Obi made this decision known on Tuesday.
The commendable gesture followed Auwalu’s honest act of returning N15 million left by a passenger in his tricycle.
Auwalu’s remarkable integrity captured national attention when he returned the significant sum, forgotten by a passenger who travelled from Chad to make purchases in Kano. After hearing about the missing money on the radio, Auwalu promptly returned it to the owner.
At the Leadership Awards and Conference in Abuja, Peter Obi, accompanied by Datti, announced the scholarship that covers tuition, accommodation, feeding, and other expenses for Auwalu’s education at Baze University until graduation.
Governor Umar Bago of Niger State, also recognised at the event, pledged an additional N250 million scholarship for Auwalu’s academic pursuits. In Governor Bago’s words:
“I am the first son of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and as such, we cannot allow Baze University to outshine us,
“So, on behalf of the president in his capacity, Auwalu, we are giving you a scholarship of N50 million. On behalf of the governors of the APC, we are giving you additional N50 million; on behalf of the ministers of the APC, N50 million; on behalf of the ministers of the APC, N50 million; on behalf of the Niger State government, N50 million; on behalf of myself and my family, N50 million. So, Auwalu, we have dashed you N250m as a scholarship to go and do your PhD.”