11-year-old girl gets World Bank-supported scholarship

An 11-year-old out-of-school girl, Saratu Garba, who recently stunned people on social media with her mathematical genius, has been awarded a world Bank-supported scholarship.

Garba, who hails from Gwadayi village in Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State, was offered the scholarship by the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), a World Bank-supported project.

Saratu’s arithmetic prowess recently went viral on social media platforms, with her ability to quickly provide mathematical solutions attracting the admiration of many.

AGILE Project Communication Officer, Aliyu Yusuf, said the project’s National Office had directed its Kano office to identify the girl and enroll her in school.

He said: “Coincidentally, the Kano AGILE Project team is on an advocacy visit to the five emirate councils in the state, with a view to soliciting for their support, being critical stakeholders in the promotion of adolescent girls’ education.

“During the team’s visit to Gaya Emirate Council, the girl and her parents were invited to the emir’s palace.

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“Representatives of the state ministry of education and the AGILE team briefed the Emir, Alhaji Ali Ibrahim-Abdulkadir, on the intention of the project to shoulder the educational responsibilities of the young girl.”

According to him, the representative of the ministry, Haruna Muhammad-Panisau, presented school uniform, a bag, and other learning materials to the young talented girl.

Yusuf said the Kano Project Coordinator, Ado Tafida-Zango, also presented N20,000 to the girl to support her education.

Garba said she dropped out of school in Primary Four after which she embraced street hawking.

“I am good at mathematics, whether addition, subtraction, division or multiplication. I can calculate numbers in millions of heads, without writing or using a calculator.

“I left school because of bullying. My peers used to call me names which I detested.

“I will not go back to that school. I’ll be happy to continue my studies in another school, away from them,” she said.

A former media aide of President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, via his foundation, has equally promised to sponsor the girl’s education.

The Star