The Borno State Government has released N1,649,048,000 outstanding scholarship obligations to students for payment of tuition and accommodation fees, welfare packages and international educational commitments.
At a news conference on Tuesday in Maiduguri, Executive Secretary of the State Scholarships Board, Dr. Bala Isa, announced the approval of ₦1.65bn scholarship payments, describing the intervention as a reflection of Governor Babagana Zulum’s unwavering commitment to education as a tool for rebuilding the state and empowering its youths.
According to him, the funds will cover the outstanding of 2024/2025 scholarship awards for students in universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
“The package includes tuition and accommodation fees for 272 medical students in Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare and tuition payments for 34 MBBS students at Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri.
“Part of the package is also fees for 60 students studying at the Nigerian Institute of Leather Science and Technology, Zaria.
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“Additional allocations will provide six months’ allowances for nursing students under the state scholarship programme and educational support for 300 orphans of counter-insurgency volunteers.
“These also include return airfare for postgraduate and undergraduate scholars studying in India, Malaysia and China,’’ he said.
Isa described the beneficiaries as future doctors, engineers, scientists and professionals whose expertise would contribute to the state’s long-term development.
He emphasized that the scholarship board had commenced administrative processes to ensure prompt disbursement of funds to institutions and the beneficiaries.
The executive secretary commended Zulum for prioritizing education in spite prevailing challenges.
He noted that sustained investments in scholarships and skills development remained central to the administration’s vision of building a prosperous, peaceful and educated state.
NAN
