Niger APC Youth Leader Leaves 20 Students Stranded After Failed Scholarship Promise

Some students of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, are groaning over the failure of Yusuf Ibrahim Bokani, the newly appointed youth leader of the All Progressive Congress, to settle the scholarship stipends he promised them six months ago.

The university students, who are all from Mokwa told our reporter that Bokani had promised to pay N47,000 each in school fees, amounting to N940,000 in total, for 20 students but has failed to keep his word.

A final-year student of Business Administration who pleaded anonymity told THE WHISTLER that she had not received any money.

“The form was given to me by the president of my union”, she said, recalling how she secured the scholarship form.

“I have waited and could not get paid,” she told THE WHISTLER.

She revealed that N47,000 was to be paid to her as scholarship allowance.

“The union president has been discussing with them, but he has not been given any feedback,” the final year student said.

Another student, Fatima Lwaafu Ahmed, who was in 100 level when she received the scholarship application form, told THE WHISTLER that she was among the fortunate students selected for the scholarship disbursement but had not received a penny.

“I didn’t even bother applying for NELFUND since I have been promised the scholarship”, she said.

She expressed fear of dropping out of school, noting that she was yet to pay her tuition fees for the academic year.

The biology student added that her examinations are scheduled to begin next month, and she may be unable to participate.

“It appears he used us to get his appointment because our union leader has been chatting with him without response,” she added.

𝟐𝟎 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 Given 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦

Speaking with THE WHISTLER on Tuesday, Idris Usman Bitagi, the president of the National Association of Mokwa Local Government Students, stated that 20 slots of scholarship were offered to them by Bokani.

“This affected our students as most of us are vulnerable students, and we already depended on this money since he had promised to deliver the school fees directly”, Usman said.

The union president, who is a final year student of Public Administration, said the form was allocated on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025, to 20 students.

Usman explained that his union secured the form through Bokani’s influence from Commissioner of Local Government, Mua’azu Jantabo and Chief of Staff to the governor, Abdullahi Usman Gbatamangi with a promise to deliver the fund.

“We got this form through Bokani when he visited our local chapter day where he promised to deliver the scholarships.

“Our students are afraid that the school portal will soon be closed which will cause them a lot of damage”, the union president said.

Bokani, who served as the Mokwa APC youth leader when he promised to pay the school fees of 20 students from his local government area, has neither responded to the students’ calls nor acknowledged their messages, THE WHISTLER has learnt.

When contacted, Bokani, told our reporter that he was out of the country.

“I am not in Nigeria now, but if I come back”, he stated.