For thousands of indigent students across Kaduna State, the cost of registering for the 2026 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination is no longer a barrier, thanks to the intervention of a former federal lawmaker.
Shehu ABG, a former member of the House of Representatives and Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Kaduna State, has sponsored 3,000 students from poor families to sit the 2026 JAMB examination. Implemented through the Shehu ABG Foundation, the gesture covers full registration costs for beneficiaries drawn from all 23 local government areas of the state.
Speaking during an inspection of designated registration centres in Kaduna on Friday, ABG described the programme as a response to a troubling pattern affecting students from poor homes.
"We have seen a disturbing trend where bright and hardworking students are unable to register for JAMB simply because their parents cannot afford the fees. This intervention is not about politics. It is about securing the future of our children and ensuring that poverty does not deny them the opportunity to pursue higher education," he noted.
He further stressed that ignoring the academic needs of young Nigerians from poor backgrounds had wider consequences for society.
"Education remains the most reliable tool for social mobility. If we neglect the academic future of these young ones, we are indirectly deepening poverty and inequality in our society," he added.
ABG also recalled the educational support enjoyed by his generation, urging leaders to extend similar opportunities to today's youth.
"Many of us are products of a system that supported public education. It is our responsibility to extend the same support to this generation so they can compete favourably and contribute meaningfully to society," he stated.
In addition to funding the registration exercise, ABG announced a performance based scholarship for outstanding beneficiaries. "Students who excel in the examination will enjoy full sponsorship from 100 level through graduation. We want to reward excellence and encourage healthy academic competition across the wards," he disclosed.
The former lawmaker added that he was personally monitoring the registration process to ensure transparency and prevent irregularities. Parents and guardians present at various centres described the gesture as timely, given the prevailing economic hardship across the country.
