The Kogi State Government has commenced the payment of N646.8 million in bursary allowances to 20,356 indigenous students studying in tertiary institutions across the country.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo officially flagged off the disbursement exercise on Thursday in Lokoja.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, the governor stated that his administration would maintain a 30 per cent budgetary allocation to the education sector.
“Students represent the future of Kogi State and are expected to acquire the knowledge and skills required to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and the country,” Ododo said.
He also advised students to leverage the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme to ease the cost of higher education.
Providing details of the payment structure, the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Scholarship Board, Mr. Afolabi Joseph-Raji, stated that the first tranche would cover 13,157 students enrolled in tertiary institutions within Kogi State.
Under the approved rates, medical students will receive N75,000 each, while students in other disciplines will receive N30,000 each.
Joseph-Raji noted that the second tranche would cater to Kogi indigenes studying outside the state, adding that bursary payments had been suspended since 2019 before the current administration approved a 150 per cent increase in the allowance.
He stated that the application and verification process for the bursary remains free, paperless, and conducted through the state’s online portal.
