Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo has approved N646.8 million for the payment of bursary allowances to 20,157 students of Kogi origin studying in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The governor announced the intervention at the official flag-off of the disbursement in Lokoja, saying his administration would continue to prioritize student welfare and access to education.
Under the revised scheme, undergraduate students will receive N30,000 each, up from previous lower rates, while medical students will receive N75,000.
Ododo, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, said the selection process was opened to eligible Kogi students in tertiary institutions nationwide and handled by the Kogi State Scholarship Board.
He urged beneficiaries to take advantage of both state-level support and the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund to pursue their studies seriously.
Executive Secretary of the Scholarship Board, Afolabi Raji, said the state had progressively increased the bursary package and introduced new administrative measures since the board was revived.
According to him, more than 20,000 students applied online for the current exercise, after which 13,157 were selected following screening. The source report, however, also states that 20,157 students are covered by the N646.8 million approval, creating an internal numerical inconsistency that requires official clarification.
Raji said beneficiaries would begin receiving payment alerts, with undergraduates receiving N30,000 and medical students N75,000.
Outgoing student leader Sunday Adeola commended the intervention and urged the state government to extend support to Kogi students at the Nigerian Law School and other institutions.
