Gov. Zulum spends N15.29bn on scholarship in 3 years

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno on Wednesday said his administration had invested N15.29 billion in scholarship programmes from 2023 to date.

The governor made this known at the homecoming ceremony for 294 beneficiaries of his foreign scholarship who completed their programmes from universities in China, India, Egypt and Malaysia.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that of the amount, more than N8.61 billion was spent on overseas studies.

According to him, the total allocation of N12.64 billion covers foreign scholarships, local scholarships and administrative support for the programme.

The governor also announced the approval of N2.65 billion to settle the 2026 foreign scholarship obligations of 158 students pursuing studies in China, Malaysia, India and Egypt as submitted by the Ministry of Education.

He said N8. 61 billion was spent on foreign scholarships, while N3.83 billion went to local scholarship beneficiaries.

“It is in pursuit of this vision that, since 2023, this administration has invested a total of N12,644,034,368.96 in scholarships for the sons and daughters of Borno.

“Of this sum, N8,611,846,007.60 has gone into foreign scholarships, N3,835,880,614.32 into local scholarships, and N196,307,747.04 into administrative support for the scheme,” Zulum said.

The governor described the expenditure as one of the state’s most significant investments in education, adding that developing young people’s capacity remained the most reliable route out of poverty and conflict.

“Our administration’s 25-Year Development Plan is anchored on building an equitable society in which every citizen, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to quality education and essential services,” he stated.

The proposed funding, he said, would also cover 54 beneficiaries under the state’s aviation scholarship programme, which is currently under review.

Mr Zulum said that the scholarship programme would remain merit-based, noting that beneficiaries had recorded impressive academic performances in their respective institutions abroad.

The governor, however, directed the state Scholarship Board to open applications for 220 academic staff of the University of Maiduguri for local and foreign postgraduate scholarships.

He also announced that requests for sponsorship from professionals in the Humanities and Arts were receiving government attention, while reaffirming that the state had fully sponsored indigenous law graduates through law schools across Nigeria.

Mr Zulum urged the graduates to regard the scholarship as a public investment that must be repaid through service and meaningful contributions to their communities.

He pledged his administration’s continued commitment to human capital development, saying Borno would continue to build an environment that rewards excellence, promotes learning and prepares young people for leadership and development roles.

Mr Zulum has announced a 100 per cent increase in local scholarships for indigenes of the state.

He directed the Commissioner for Education and Scholarship Board to ensure immediate implementation.

Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Investment, Lawan Wakilbe, said the foreign scholarship covers 294 indigenous students studying medicine, engineering and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related courses in Asia and North Africa.

He said the investment, amounting to over N8 billion from 2023 to date, covered tuition fees, accommodation, feeding, monthly stipends, airfares, travel documentation, and other academic-related expenses.

According to him, 171 postgraduate scholars were trained in two universities in India and five universities in Malaysia, with the state spending N3.233 billion on their education.

He stated that the beneficiaries were expected to take up academic roles in local tertiary institutions in the state.

Mr Wakilbe announced that 16 of the postgraduate scholars graduated with distinctions and other academic honours.

He also presented 104 undergraduate students comprising 53 medical students and 51 engineering students currently studying in six institutions in China.

The students, the commissioner said, were expected to form part of the professional workforce for the state’s healthcare and infrastructure sectors, including the newly established state-of-the-art Kashim Ibrahim teaching hospital.

He stated that beneficiaries had received their fees and monthly stipends, ranging from 150 dollars to 200 dollars,s promptly and in advance since 2023.

Executive Secretary of the Borno State Scholarship Board, Dr Bala Isa, explained that the programme began with 301 scholars. Regrettably, he said, one passed away, two withdrew due to ill health, one transferred, and three withdrew from the programme, bringing the total number to 294.

NAN