Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved a N12.9 billion scholarship scheme to sponsor 54 indigenes of the state to study aeronautics and engineering with professional certifications at the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM).
The training programme includes basic pilot training and specialised courses. Ten beneficiaries will study Aerospace Engineering, 11 will study Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 11 will specialise in Mechatronics Engineering, 12 will study Software Engineering, and 10 will focus on Systems Engineering.
At a brief ceremony held at the Government House in Maiduguri on Thursday night, Zulum presented a cheque of N2.5 billion to the institution. The amount covers annual tuition and related expenses, while the total five-year package is valued at N12.9 billion.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the governor urged them to stay committed to their academic journey. He explained that the selection process was carefully structured to ensure fairness, with two students selected from each of Borno’s 27 Local Government Areas.
“What matters most is not just gaining admission, but how focused you will be in your studies. I advise you to remain dedicated and become good ambassadors of our state,” Zulum said.
In addition to funding their education, the governor announced an immediate financial support package of N500,000 for each student to assist with resumption logistics and other incidental expenses.
Providing details of the selection process, the State Commissioner for Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, said the scholarship attracted wide interest. He disclosed that more than 3,000 applications were received from across the state.
According to him, the applications were first reduced to 1,200 candidates who sat for a written examination, after which the final 54 beneficiaries were selected.
“These programmes reflect Governor Zulum’s commitment to human capital development, youth empowerment and investment in education,” Engr Wakilbe stated.
The founder of IBUAM, Isaac Balami, who is an indigene of Borno State, commended the governor for the initiative. He assured the government that the beneficiaries would receive world-class training and expressed confidence that they could be among those who would eventually build the first made-in-Nigeria aircraft.
