By Ghazali Ibrahim
In a bold move that restructure political empowerment, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa of Niger East Senatorial District has fully sponsored over 200 students from his constituency to study in India and China.
The students, who departed on Monday, August 25, 2025, after passing through a compulsory computer based test (CBT) will pursue degrees in medicine, engineering, technology, and other STEM courses, fields seen as critical to national development.
The initiative marks one of the most significant educational sponsorships by a Nigerian senator in recent years.
The senator’s action stands in stark contrast to what many critics describe as the tokenistic “empowerment” projects carried out by some of his counterparts, particularly in the South.
These often include the distribution of items like wheelbarrows, cutlasses, generators, tricycles, fertilizer among others which many see as gestures that offer short-term relief but rarely create sustainable opportunities.
While the cost of studying STEM in China can vary around $3,000 (4.6 million naira) to $15,000 USD (23 million naira) per year, with public universities being more affordable and private or specialized institutions being more expensive, STEM in India is generally very affordable for international students, with tuition fees ranging from approximately ₹2,40,000 to ₹4,80,000 (around $3,000-$6,000 USD) which equals to 4.6-9million naira per year for undergraduate programs.
However, these figures exclude living costs, which are also a significant factor in the total cost of studying in both countries.
Meanwhile , the senator is expected to cover the full tuition of the 200 scholars throughout their stay in the program as part of the empowerment program for his constituents.
Senator Sani Musa’s approach has drawn widespread praise for prioritizing long-term investment in human capital.
By facilitating access to quality education abroad, he is not only equipping young Nigerians with relevant skills but also laying a foundation for economic transformation in his district.
