By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri
A total of N669 million was spent by the Yobe State government in 2014 on the scholarships for 15, 745 students in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria and abroad.
A press statement by the special adviser to the state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam on press affairs and information, Abdullahi Bego, said that approval had been given for the funds to be released to the State Scholarships Board for payment of the beneficiaries.
Bego said the scholarship awards were part of the state government’s efforts to ensure that students from the state “get the best possible education, skills and training they need to play a part in moving the state forward.”
The statement said that N309.13 million of the funds went to students in institutions of leaning in Maiduguri, Kano, Kaduna and the Nigerian Law School, while “17 PhD, 39 MSc and 40 medical students enrolled in overseas universities” received a total of N360 million.
“The Governor is committed to supporting Yobe students in every way possible to make it easier for them to enrol in and graduate from universities and other institutions of higher learning,” the statement assured.
It said further that the government would also continue in its efforts to ensure that primary and secondary schools in the state are well equipped to enable them provide quality education.