Gombe monarch awards scholarship to 3,000 IDPs, less privileged children

The Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu, says he has awarded scholarships to no fewer than 3,000 children of Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) and the less privileged in Gombe.

Shehu made this known when he paid homage to Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo on Monday in Gombe.

The royal father said that in the two and a half years of his reign in the state, 1,500 IDPs children were enrolled in schools.

He also said that 1,500 less privileged children were provided with school uniforms and other education materials.

According to him, the high rate of out-of-school in the country, particularly in the North-East, was worrisome.

“This is a collective responsibility; all arms must be on deck and government should not be left alone too.”

The monarch commended Dankwambo for the infrastructural development in the state as well as his support to traditional institutions.

Responding, Dankwambo commended the monarch for his philanthropic activities and urged public spirited individuals to emulate him.

“What you are doing is commendable because it is not all the traditional leaders that have such initiative.

“Many of them remain in the palace to perform traditional roles only,” he said.