Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on Thursday flagged off the disbursement of the 2023/2024 scholarship award to deserving indigenes of the state.
Speaking at the event, the governor explained that the exercise was aimed at reducing the financial burden of students undergoing studies across the country. He stated that his administration remained committed to ensuring quality education in the state, adding that the education sector consistently takes the lion share of the state’s annual budget.
Governor Sule also acknowledged the fairness of the selection process and assured the students of his commitment to appointing capable leadership in tertiary institutions. “We will not be partisan in the appointment of the provost. I want you to cooperate with the acting provost and the management of the institution. I thank the acting provost for maintaining peace in the institution,” he said. He further advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money for its intended purpose.
Earlier, Mrs Sa’adatu Yahaya, the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Scholarship Board, described the official flag-off of the 2023/2024 bursary disbursement as a demonstration of the governor’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence and support for students. She said the occasion marked an important milestone in the collective pursuit of educational advancement and the socioeconomic development of the state.
The Executive Secretary recalled that over 25,000 students applied when the portal was opened, but after the online screening process, a total of 16,756 applicants were selected as beneficiaries. She added that out of the N592,223,000 approved for the disbursement by the governor, the board refunded N122,108,300 into the government’s account after paying the beneficiaries, as part of transparency and accountability measures guiding the exercise.
She emphasized that the scholarship disbursement would go a long way in easing the financial challenges of students while also reflecting the administration’s commitment to fairness, accountability, and sustainable educational development in Nasarawa State.