His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. (Dr) Mai Mala Buni CON, has approved the disbursement of scholarships and bursaries to 28,346 Yobe State indigenes currently studying in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. This move has been described as one of the most far reaching educational interventions by any state government in recent times, reflecting a renewed focus on youth empowerment and access to education.
The approval signals the Governor’s continued commitment to human capital development as a major driver of progress in the state. According to the Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Scholarship Board (YSSB), Dr. Kagu Abubakar, Yobe State University has the highest number of beneficiaries with 7,636 students approved. He noted that this reflects the steady growth of the institution and the rising enrolment of Yobe indigenes across different academic fields. He added that students in other universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and specialized institutions also feature in the comprehensive list.
Dr. Kagu announced that Governor Buni has further approved a 100 percent increment in all categories of scholarship payments. This doubles the previous allowance students received. Under the new arrangement, PGDE, Master’s and PhD students will now get 110,000, an increase from the former 55,000. Undergraduate students will receive 46,000 compared to 23,000 previously paid, while HND, NCE and National Diploma students will now receive 34,000 instead of 17,000. Students pursuing Diploma, Certificate and Consultancy programmes will receive 26,000, up from the earlier 13,000.
The Executive Secretary explained that the increment is meant to reflect current economic conditions and rising education costs. To guarantee transparency and smooth implementation, the Scholarship Board recently hosted a joint stakeholders meeting involving members of the House Committee on Higher Education, officials from the Ministry of Higher Education, Youth and Sports, education focal persons, and student leaders from various institutions. He said the meeting reviewed work processes, harmonized schedules and addressed logistical concerns to ensure effective execution of the exercise nationwide.
Dr. Kagu stated that the names, admission details and academic records of all approved beneficiaries will be forwarded to their institutions and recognized student bodies. He added that a comprehensive timetable for payment will be released to guide students and schools. According to him, this step is intended to prevent congestion, maintain order and eliminate sharp practices.
The Executive Secretary conveyed the appreciation of students, parents and guardians across Yobe State to Governor Mai Mala Buni for what he described as continued investment in education. He highlighted that the scholarship scheme has been a major source of relief for families, supported school retention, and increased access to tertiary learning for indigent but talented students.
He assured that the Public Relations Office of the Scholarship Board will continue to provide regular updates to schools, beneficiaries and the public. He stressed that the Board remains committed to accountability, transparency and timely service delivery in carrying out its mandate.
