The Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje has urged students of higher institutions in the state to form Covid-19 Volunteer Marshals on campuses to help fight the second wave of the pandemic as cases increase.
He made the call at a Stakeholders Sensitisation Meeting on COVID-19, with students leaders from all tertiary institutions in the state, held at Africa House, Government House, Kano.
He described the students as critical stakeholders in the fight against the dreaded disease.
“For us to effectively fight this pandemic of the COVID-19, it is absolutely necessary for us to include you from the scratch. Your participation means a lot in fighting the virus,” said Ganduje.
He called on them to go back to their respective schools and educate other students on the covid-19 protocols as well as its devastating effect.
“We urge you to also go back and form Students Voluntary Marshals Against COVID-19 in your respective schools. I am extremely delighted that you all promised to take this fight head-on,” he said.
The state government said earlier that plans have concluded plans to launch Covid-19 Marshals that will work with security agencies n implementing the Covid-19 protocols across the state.
He also called on the students to do everything possible to avoid drug abuse because of its devastating effect stressing that it will not be tolerated in any guise by the government.,
“Though we are lucky that, cultism is very minimal, if not absent, on our campuses, this issue of drug abuse must be taken very seriously,” cautioned the Governor.
As requested by the students, the governor promised to review their scholarships upward soon.
“As you are all aware of how we take your studies seriously, I am assuring you that, your scholarship will be reviewed upward. This will also cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflationary trend,,” he promised.
Similarly, he promised to intervene in the areas of rents for the off-campus students to assuage the effect of covid-19 on them
“We will look for the major owners of such residences to talk to them to reduce their rents so that our students can have some relief,” said Ganduje.
Governor gave them one hundred thousand face masks, which they would take to their respective schools and distribute for prompt use.
The state government had similar sensitization meetings with Emirs, traders, transporters, Heads of institution and teachers, local government chairmen and the Media among others.
PIAK
