ASUU disburses over N164m scholarship to 164 students

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has revealed that it has distributed its 2024 scholarship awards to 164 indigent students drawn from various union chapters nationwide.

This information was shared by Professor Christopher Piwuna, who serves as the convener of the ASUU Grant, Research, and Publications Committee, during a press briefing held at the Yuli Campus of Sa’adu Zungur University in Bauchi State on Saturday.

Piwuna noted that two deserving candidates were chosen from each of the 79 ASUU chapters in universities across the nation through a strict evaluation procedure.

He mentioned that each scholarship awardee received a grant of N200,000, which is not subject to repayment.

Speaking through Lawan Abubakar, the former coordinator of the ASUU Bauchi Zone, the convener emphasized that both male and female students were fairly considered when selecting award recipients.

He also mentioned that students with physical disabilities were among those chosen to help ease their access to higher education.

“Over the last two years, ASUU spent about N164,800,000 on scholarships for indigent students in universities across the country.”

“Our union has been managing the Gani Fawehinmi scholarship for years; we decided to not only organise that of Chief Gani but also institute our own.”

“This creation was also shaped by the government’s unrelenting attacks on students and their parents through ‘school charges.’”

“When we argued that NELFUND scholarship should be a grant, we meant it because we are not asking any parent or beneficiary of our indigent support to repay at a later day,” Piwuna said.

Reports indicate that applicants interested in receiving the scholarship had to demonstrate both financial hardship and a strong academic record through an impressive cumulative grade average point.