26/01/2026
PRESS RELEASE
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION 2026:
NYCN ZARIA TO ADMINISTER SULE RINGIM – IBRAHIM ABDU MEMORIAL INITIATIVE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Zaria, Kaduna State | 25th January 2026
In commemoration of the International Day of Education 2026, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Zaria Branch announces the commencement of the administration of the Sule Ringim – Ibrahim Abdu Memorial Initiative for Academic Excellence (SRIA Initiative), a community-based education-focused support programme conceived and publicly committed to in May 2025 by Malam Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim to promote academic excellence, mentorship, and access to educational opportunities among young people in Zaria.
The initiative, established in memory of the sponsor’s grandparents, Alhaji Sule Ringim and Alhaji Ibrahim Abdu, is designed to honour their enduring legacy of learning, discipline, and community service by recognising outstanding academic performance and supporting aspiring students at critical transition points in their educational journey. Its administration at this time aligns with the commencement of a new academic session.
The first phase of implementation includes the award of book grants to candidates who recorded outstanding JAMB UTME performance, as verified by the Zaria Local Government Advisory Committee on Education, under the following categories:
Overall Best Performance in JAMB UTME in Zaria Local Government
Book Grant: ₦50,000 per beneficiary
● Auwal Aminu Auwal — Score: 345
● Khadija Ahmad Bello — Score: 328
Overall Best Performance in JAMB UTME in Tudun Wada, Zaria
Book Grant: ₦40,000 per beneficiary
● Garba Ahmad — Score: 339
● Khadija Ahmad Bello — Score: 328
Overall Best Performance in JAMB UTME at Muslim Special Training Center, MSTC (formerly MPD), Tudun Wada, Zaria
Book Grant: ₦30,000 per beneficiary
● Khadija Ahmad Bello — Score: 328
● Kaab Hamza — Score: 301
In addition to the book grants, all beneficiaries will be inducted into a structured mentorship platform, where they will receive long-term academic and career guidance. Each awardee will, at an appropriate stage, be matched with an accomplished mentor in their chosen field of study to support their academic progression, character development, and post-university impact.
In addition, the initiative will sponsor 20 underprivileged SSCE result holders who are eligible for JAMB by covering:
● Full JAMB registration, and
● Enrollment into a special JAMB preparatory programme.
The NYCN Zaria Branch will be responsible for the coordination, verification, transparency, and monitoring of the initiative, in line with its mandate on youth development and educational empowerment. The Council views this partnership as a model for community-driven, institutionally anchored interventions that deliver sustainable impact.
The date for the award ceremony will be formally announced by the NYCN Zaria Branch in due course.
The NYCN Zaria Branch commends the sponsor, Malam Abdulhaleem Ishaq Ringim, for fulfilling this commitment and calls on stakeholders, alumni bodies, and well-meaning individuals to support efforts aimed at expanding access to quality education for young people in Zaria.
Signed:
National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN)
Zaria Branch
