Kaduna govt approves N524.12m for students’ scholarship

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, says the state government has approved N524.12 million for the payment of scholarships to its students in tertiary institutions.

El-Rufai made the disclosure at the inauguration of the state’s Merit and Needs Based Local Scholarship programme in Kaduna on Wednesday.

The governor said the money was the tuition fees of the students paid to their institutions across Nigeria until graduation.

He stated that the state inherited a scholarship system, which students received between N10,000 and N20,000 per annum, which was inadequate to meet their needs.

He said the administration decided to review the system and revamp it to ensure that only those who merited sponsorship benefited.

According to him, the scholarship is no longer automatic, but only for students who really deserve it.

El-Rufai added that for those not considered, the government had come up with a loan scheme for them to finance their education.

“They can now pay over time.

“Between April 2019 to February 2022 under new Kaduna state scholarship and loans board, 6,858 students benefited from N675 million the board paid out under the state bursary scheme.

“All the beneficiaries were paid N109,000 per session which is much better than what was being paid previously,” the governor stated.

He said the state government had disbursed N819 million through the education loan scheme to 509 beneficiaries for their tuition and upkeep.

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According to him, the government’s educational strategy provides equal opportunity for all by providing free and compulsory primary and secondary school education for the first 12 years of schooling.

He added that the two scholarship programmes were to enable all students to access funds for their tertiary education within and outside the country.

The governor stated that the government had a new education bill awaiting enactment by the State House of Assembly, under which the state would have an Education Endowment Fund.

He said once passed into law, the fund would be managed by a board of trustees independent of government.

According to him, they will also provide for the prosecution of parents whose children are not in school.

“Any child found roaming the streets will be traced to his parents or guardians and they will be prosecuted.

“There is no reason for a child within 12 years of free education will be roaming the streets,” the governor added.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the state scholarship and loans board, Mr Hassan Rilwan, said from the N524.12 million approved by the government, three state-owned tertiary institutions would get N219 million for 1,251 students.

“While Kaduna State University will be paid N158.53 million for 755 students, Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, will be receiving N33.45 million for 317 students.

“Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic is receiving N27.6 million for 179 students.

“It may interest you to note that of the 1,251 beneficiaries, 534 students were got from the State Social Register.

“The processing of other students within and outside the state-owned tertiary institutions will commence in August,” he said.

Aliyu Suleiman and Jacinta Joseph, both students of Kaduna State University, who were beneficiaries, appreciated the government for the opportunity given them to pursue their education.

The Star