The Kogi State Government has approved the disbursement of N646.8 million for bursary awards to 20,157 students across tertiary institutions in the state. This move is part of the government's efforts to prioritize the welfare of students in various institutions of higher learning. The approval was made by Governor Usman Ododo, who emphasized the importance of supporting students in their academic pursuits. The governor made this announcement during the official flag-off ceremony of the bursary allowance disbursement at the Banquet Hall, Government House in Lokoja.
Prior to the flag-off ceremony, Governor Usman Ododo had increased the bursary allowance for undergraduate students from N12,000 to N30,000, while medical students received an increase from N30,000 to N75,000. The governor explained that his administration will continue to prioritize the welfare of students at all times. He stressed that the Kogi State Scholarship Board is responsible for selecting qualified students for the bursary award. The selection process was made open to all students of Kogi State across tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The governor, represented by the State Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, commended President Bola Tinubu's intervention through the NELFund, which aims to support students in taking their education seriously. He urged students to take advantage of various government interventions to pursue their education to an enviable level. The governor's representative emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and students to ensure a smooth and successful academic journey.
The Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Scholarship Board, Dr. Afolabi Raji, commended Governor Usman Ododo for his magnanimity in increasing the bursary award by over 150%. Dr. Raji noted that since the government revived the Scholarship Board, several innovations have been introduced to support students from Kogi State. He mentioned that last year's exercise had over 8,000 beneficiaries, while this year's advertisement online attracted no fewer than 20,000 applicants.
After a due diligence screening exercise, a total of 13,157 students were selected as beneficiaries. Dr. Raji stressed that from this moment on, beneficiaries will continue to receive alerts ranging from N30,000 for undergraduates to N75,000 for medical students. The Executive Secretary expressed optimism that the bursary award will go a long way in supporting students in their academic pursuits.
The outgoing National President of the National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS), Sunday Adeola, lauded Governor Usman Ododo for his magnanimity in increasing the bursary award. Adeola stated that the student community will continue to engage the government in a positive manner. He urged the state government to extend its magnanimity to Kogi State students at law schools and other higher institutions across Nigeria.
The Kogi State government's initiative to support students is expected to have a positive impact on the academic performance and overall well-being of the beneficiaries. With the increased bursary allowance, students will be able to focus more on their studies and less on financial constraints. The government's efforts to prioritize the welfare of students have been commended by various stakeholders, including student leaders and education experts.
Key points
- * The Kogi State government has approved N646.8 million for bursary awards to 20,157 students across tertiary institutions in the state. * The governor increased the bursary allowance for undergraduate students from N12,000 to N30,000 and for medical students from N30,000 to N75,000. * The selection process for the bursary award was made open to all students of Kogi State across tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
