Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has approved ₦316 million for the distribution of bursaries to 8,750 verified undergraduate students from the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Mr. Wemi Jones, announced this at a press briefing on Friday in Lokoja.
Jones stated, “Out of over 40,000 undergraduate students who applied online for the 2024 Bursary Award, only 8,750 have fully uploaded the required documents and have been verified.”
He detailed that 8,549 students would each receive ₦30,000, amounting to ₦256 million, while 201 law students would each be awarded ₦300,000, totalling ₦60.3 million.
The commissioner assured that beneficiaries would begin receiving their payments within two weeks.
He reiterated the administration’s dedication under Governor Ododo’s leadership to prioritising education and significantly reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state.
Additionally, Jones presented a supplementary cheque of ₦5 million to Miss Favour Adebayo, a Kogi indigene currently studying in Poland on scholarship.
He explained that the governor had approved the ₦5 million disbursement to honour Miss Adebayo for her achievement in securing the European Union Erasmus+ Scholarship to study in Poland.
Presenting the cheque to Miss Adebayo’s father, Mr. Moses Adebayo, on behalf of the governor, Jones said the funds would complement her existing scholarship, covering tuition, accommodation, and other needs.
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Scholarship Board, Mr. Afolabi Joseph-Raji, commended the governor for his unwavering support for education through various scholarship initiatives.
Joseph-Raji highlighted that Miss Adebayo had earned the scholarship as the best overall student during her 300-level studies at Nasarawa State University, participating in an exchange programme with Poland.
He assured that the state government, through the Scholarship Board, remains committed to supporting every Kogi student in achieving academic excellence.
Expressing gratitude, Mr. Moses Adebayo thanked the governor for his generosity, promising that his daughter would continue to make Kogi State proud.
