Nigeria News Today: Governor Ododo Releases ₦1.5 Billion Bursary for Kogi Students
Lokoja, Kogi State — Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has approved the release of ₦1.5 billion as bursary awards for indigenes of Kogi State in tertiary institutions across Nigeria for the 2025/26 academic session. The scheme, tagged “Season Two”, is designed to build on the successes of last year’s bursary initiative.
Under the scheme, each eligible student will receive ₦30,000, while law students across Nigeria’s seven Law Schools will receive ₦300,000 each. The bursary is aimed at easing financial challenges and promoting access to quality education for Kogi indigenes.
Registration Portal Opens
At a press conference in Lokoja, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones, unveiled the online registration portal — scholarshipboard.kogistate.gov.ng. The portal opened on September 29 and will close on October 31, 2025.
Jones emphasized that the bursary demonstrates the Governor’s commitment to making Kogi a model for educational development in Nigeria. He assured that the process has been made transparent, seamless, and fully digital to prevent bottlenecks seen in previous editions.
Improved Registration and Transparency
The Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Scholarship Board, Afolabi Joseph-Raji, praised Governor Ododo for revitalizing the bursary scheme. He highlighted improvements in the process, noting that required documents such as admission letters and school ID cards must now be uploaded before registration is completed.
“Over 44,000 students registered last year but only 8,750 successfully completed verification and benefited. This year, we expect more beneficiaries as the process is now direct and transparent,” Afolabi explained.
Students React
Two beneficiaries of last year’s bursary testified to how the funds helped them address tuition and academic challenges. President of NAKOSS, Comrade Sunday Adeola, commended Governor Ododo for sustaining and expanding the scheme, pledging that the students’ body will conduct mass sensitization to encourage eligible students to register before the deadline.
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