Saraki vows to back UNILORIN's top student on Italian journey

Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the former Senate President, has committed to covering the outstanding relocation expenses for Adisa Blessing Oluwafikayo, a first-class Mathematics graduate of the University of Ilorin, who has secured a fully funded Master’s scholarship at the University of Calabria, Italy. This pledge was made by Saraki on Saturday through his verified X handle, #bukolasaraki, after he came across Oluwafikayo's appeal for assistance with her travel arrangements.

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Oluwafikayo had posted an appeal on social media, stating 'Help Make My Scholarship Dream Come True 🙏 'I’m Adisa Blessing Oluwafikayo, a First-Class Mathematics graduate (CGPA: 4.76/5.0) from UNILORIN, and I’ve been awarded a fully funded Master’s scholarship in Mathematics at the University of Calabria, Italy.

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Saraki's response to Oluwafikayo's post was one of admiration and support, as he wrote, 'Dear Blessing, I just came across your tweet, and it truly inspired me, given your extraordinary achievement of graduating with a First Class in Mathematics from UNILORIN and earning a fully funded Master’s admission in Italy.

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Saraki emphasized that Oluwafikayo's hard work and excellence should not be limited by the cost of relocating, and therefore, he offered to cover the remaining costs, stating, 'No young person who has worked this hard should have such an opportunity limited by the cost of getting there.

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He further instructed #nancy_i_i from his office to reach out to Oluwafikayo, and congratulated her on her achievement, saying, 'It would be my privilege to support your journey by covering what is left in the cost of your relocation, congratulations once again, go, excel, and continue to make Nigeria proud.

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Saraki's gesture has been widely commended on social media, with many praising it as a shining example of leadership that invests in youth education and national development, including #kingkunlecs, who reacted by saying, 'Wow this is incredible, encouraging academic achievement like this increases more performance among youths…. God bless you sir.

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#ClownFolarin also expressed admiration for Saraki's leadership style, stating, 'This is one reason I’ll never stop respecting and following your leadership style, while #Abdyekeen_Bash noted, 'Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki is the leader anyone from anywhere in any part of this country can always count on in dire times of need like this… Many thanks for the gesture and congratulations to the young scholar.

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Others, including #aoidowu1309 and @ChrisUgo18, praised the timeliness of Saraki's intervention, with the former writing, 'This is an amazing gesture, God bless you, and the latter describing it as, 'Classic example of people-oriented leadership and investment in people and education.

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The development is particularly significant given the current economic challenges in Nigeria, which have led many young Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad, and Oluwafikayo, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.76/5.0 from UNILORIN, had publicly appealed for help to fund her travel and settlement after her scholarship covered tuition and other core academic costs.

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Saraki, a prominent politician and former governor of Kwara State, has a history of supporting educational initiatives, including donations to outstanding UNILORIN students, and his latest intervention underscores a continued focus on empowering bright young minds.