Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has approved an increase in the state bursary award from ₦20,000 to ₦50,000 per beneficiary as part of efforts to reduce the financial burden on students and improve access to quality education.
The governor also approved the release of ₦1.3 billion for the payment of bursaries to eligible students across the state, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in human capital development under the ARISE Agenda.
The approvals were announced in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, who disclosed that Governor Eno also approved ₦1.968 billion for the payment of examination fees for students in public basic and secondary schools across the state.
According to the statement, the approval covers the cost of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examinations, and other state examinations, including the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Common Entrance and Placement Examination, Senior Secondary II Promotion Examination, and entrance examinations into Senior Science Colleges and Government Model Girls’ Secondary School.
A breakdown of the funds shows that ₦1.368 billion has been allocated for WASSCE and related expenses, including National Identification Number registration, biometric capture, science practicals, Continuous Assessment, monitoring and examination administration.
An additional ₦50 million was approved for NABTEB examinations, while ₦550 million will fund the conduct of key state examinations.
Governor Eno directed the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies to immediately implement the approvals, ensuring prompt payment of examination-related fees so that no student is prevented from sitting examinations due to financial challenges.
Umanah said the combined approvals of ₦1.3 billion for bursary payments and ₦1.968 billion for examination fees amount to an investment of more than ₦3.2 billion in the state’s education sector, underscoring the administration’s commitment to supporting students and strengthening educational development.
