Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, has launched the disbursement of N646.8 million as bursary allowances to 20,347 verified Kogi State students in tertiary institutions nationwide. This is part of his student support program, aimed at easing the financial burden on students and their families. The flag-off ceremony, tagged “Gov. Ododo Students Support Season 2,” took place at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Lokoja.
The Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Scholarship Board, Mr Afolabi Joseph-Raji, revealed that the Ododo administration revived the bursary scheme, which had not been paid since 2019, and increased the allowance by 150%. The new allowance is N30,000 per student, up from N12,000, while medical students now receive N75,000 each, up from N18,000. This move aims to support students in meeting the rising costs of tertiary education.
Joseph-Raji disclosed that in the 2024/2025 session, the Board disbursed N256.4 million to 8,549 undergraduates and N60.3 million to Law School students. For the 2025/2026 session, 20,347 students have been screened and verified, with a total disbursement of N646.8 million. The payment will be done in phases, starting with students in institutions within Kogi State, followed by those in over 300 institutions outside the state.
To ensure transparency and accessibility, the governor abolished the old practice of students paying N650 for scratch cards to access the portal. Instead, the application process is now free, paperless, online, and transparent. This move has streamlined the application process, allowing more students to benefit from the bursary scheme.
The Kogi State Scholarship Board has introduced new initiatives to engage students, including the Governor Ododo Campus Quiz Challenge and the Radio Quiz Challenge. These initiatives aim to promote academic excellence and provide additional support to students. The Board has also received a seven-seater utility vehicle to ease mobilisation and campus verification.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor, the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, commended the leadership of the National Association of Kogi State Students for their patience and peaceful conduct during the delay. Jones highlighted the government's commitment to education, citing the 30% share of the state budget allocated to the sector. He also listed other government interventions, including payment of exam fees for public school students.
Responding on behalf of students, the outgoing President of NAKOSS, Comrade Sunday Adeola Simon, thanked Governor Ododo for the intervention, saying it demonstrates the government's prioritization of students' welfare. Simon appealed to the governor to include students studying outside the state and those in the Nigeria Law School in the disbursement, ensuring no student is left behind.
Key points
- Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, has disbursed N646.8 million in bursary allowances to 20,347 students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
- The allowance has been increased by 150%, with undergraduates receiving N30,000 each and medical students receiving N75,000 each.
- The bursary scheme has been revived after a five-year hiatus, with a new transparent and paperless application process.
