A UK-based Nigerian, Anas Muhammad Sani, has launched the Anas Dukura Foundation in Sokoto State, aimed at promoting female child education through a program tagged “Catch Them Young” alongside scholarship opportunities.
Anas, who hails from Dukura in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, said the initiative was inspired by his desire to give back to society after being sponsored for his Master’s degree in the United Kingdom by Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki, the member representing Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency.
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“Two years ago, the legislator representing my constituency, Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency, Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki [Santurakin Sokoto] sponsored me 100% to study my MSc at the prestigious University of Westminster in Central London. That was a historic patriotic move that was unprecedented in the region I come from,” Anas stated.
He added, “Since then, my primary objective has been to find a way to give back to the community that has been electing the selfless leader who shaped my life career to represent them in the Federal House of Representatives.”
At the foundation’s launch, 10 girls from the community’s primary school were selected for the “Catch Them Young” sponsorship program. The girls, primarily from primary 3 and 4, were provided with new sets of uniforms, exercise and textbooks, and a monthly allowance to address other needs and discourage their parents from engaging them in hawking.
“In our community right now, there is no single girl in primary 5 and 6, and we have very few in the other classes. This is why we picked those in primary 4 and 3. We will provide everything for their studies,” Anas explained.
The foundation is also providing scholarships to nine higher institution students from the community. Six of the beneficiaries will receive 50% of their tuition fees, along with an annual scholarship grant of N30,000.
“All students of tertiary institutions from my community, Dukura, would be getting a reasonable financial grant annually starting this year. Students of institutions not covered by government sponsorship, especially those studying nursing and other health-related courses, would be assisted with at least 50% tuition,” he said.
Beyond western education, the foundation will establish weekly Quranic classes for children aged 10 and below, to be taught by a sponsored professional instructor.
