The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election Peter Obi and his running mate Baba-Ahmed Datti have awarded a university scholarship to a tricycle rider for returning N15m to the owner.
Auwalu, 22, had last year returned N15m forgotten by a passenger in his commercial tricycle better known as “Keke”. The passenger came from Chad to buy some goods in Kano.
But Auwalu returned the money to the owner after he heard about the missing on the radio.
Months after the gesture, Obi at the Leadership Awards and Conference in Abuja on Tuesday, alongside Datti, rewarded the Kano-born tricycle operator with a scholarship that covers his tuition, feeding, and accommodation.
“Forthwith, I have consulted with my younger brother (Datti)and I know there will be other things coming from the big men who are here,” Obi said at the event where he bagged the Politician of the Year gong.
“But for us, for now, your education, tuition accommodation, and feeding will be taken care of by Baze University till you graduate.”
At the event, Obi also lamented the country’s dependence on the export of food items that can be produced in Nigeria.
According to him, with Nigeria’s vast landmass, the country has no business importing food items.
After Obi’s remark, Governor Umar Bago of Niger State who also bagged the co-Governor of the Year, also announced a N250m scholarship for Auwalu.
“I am the first son of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and as such, we cannot allow Baze University to outshine us,” he said.
“So, on behalf of the president in his capacity, Auwalu, we are giving you a scholarship of N50m; on behalf of the governors of the APC, we are giving you additional N50m; on behalf of the ministers of the APC, N50m; on behalf of the ministers of the APC, N50m; on behalf of Niger State government of Niger State, N50m; on behalf of myself and my family, N50m. So, Auwalu, we have dashed you N250m as a scholarship to go and do your PhD.”
