Borno Govt Disburses Over N1.5bn Scholarship, Bursary To Students

The Borno State Government has disbursed over one billion, three hundred and five million and eighty-nine thousand as a scholarship to 997 students of Nursing and Midwives across the 27 local government areas of the state.

Speaking at a ceremony for the award at the College of Nursing Sciences, Maiduguri on Wednesday, Governor Babagana Zulum said “The government has allocated a total of One billion three hundred and five million one hundred and eighty-nine thousand Naira (₦1,305,189,000) for scholarships, with a breakdown of One hundred and twenty-four million one hundred and forty-nine thousand naira (₦124,149,000) earmarked for tuition fees.

The remaining one billion, one hundred and eighty-one million forty thousand Naira (₦1,181,040,000) will be disbursed as a monthly stipend of thirty thousand Naira (₦30,000) to each beneficiary throughout the duration of their studies”

The scholarship programme received about 1,080 nominations, 40 from each of the 27 local government areas of the state. However, after an entrance examination, 997 passed and qualified to benefit from the scholarship.

Zulum noted that with the scholarship, the beneficiaries would, on graduation, bridge the workforce demands in the state’s healthcare service delivery due to the increasing population growth.

Zulum said, “In line with our twenty-five (25) year development plan, we remain resolute in our dedication to cultivating an equitable society and delivering qualitative education, alongside a good healthcare delivery system. Pillars one (1) and three (3) of our plan emphasized these crucial objectives.

“Our vision is to foster a society where every individual, irrespective of their background or circumstances, has equal opportunities to prosper through access to education thereby empowering our citizens to realize their full potential.”

He said “In furtherance of this objective, I have issued a directive to each Local Government Area within the State to nominate forty (40) residents who have successfully completed their secondary education and demonstrate the requisite qualifications for enrolment in nursing programs through the Scholarships Board. After the Entrance Examination, the College submitted a list of nine hundred and ninety-seven (997) student nurses who have successfully passed the entrance examination.

Among these students, a significant number are from the local government submissions, demonstrating the efficacy of our decentralized approach to identifying and nurturing talent.

Additionally, a portion of these successful candidates are those who directly applied for admission and purchased forms on their own, aligning with our commitment to extend opportunities to all indigenes of the state, we have included them amongst the beneficiaries.

“Through a dual approach of grassroots nominations and direct applications, we ensure that deserving candidates from all corners of Borno State have equal opportunities to pursue nursing education. ”

“It is imperative to emphasize that with great opportunities come great responsibilities. Therefore, all scholarship recipients must understand that they are entering into a five-year bond with the state Government. During this period, they are expected to serve in their respective localities. This commitment is essential for ensuring that their education’s benefits directly contribute to their communities’ development and well-being.

“However, it is crucial to respect individual choices and aspirations. Those who prefer not to be bonded by the scholarship requirements are free to opt-out.”, he added.

Governor Zulum further stated that his administration was constructing two colleges of nursing, one in the northern part of the state and the other one in the southern part.

He assured that the government will continue to work tirelessly towards a future where education and healthcare are not just aspirations but fundamental rights accessible to all by prioritizing investments in the training of citizens to enable them to fulfil their potential and drive progress in various fields.

Similarly, Governor Zulum awarded an N201 million bursary allowance to 2,010 students of the Maiduguri College of Nursing who had not benefited from the scholarship.

The governor also announced automatic employment for the 997 beneficiaries and other nursing students who had excelled academically, upon completion of their studies and directed that each of the 2,010 nursing and midwifery students be credited with the bursary allowance of N100,000

He also commissioned a lecture theatre complex and a 3,000 people-capacity multipurpose hall for the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Maiduguri.

Also, the Nursing Council of Nigeria (NCN) has commended Governor Zulum for his commitment to improving nursing practice in Borno, stressing that the scholarship awarded by the governor on Wednesday was the first of its kind and so far the largest in Nigeria.

The Registrar of the Council, Dr Farouk Umar Abubakar, who was represented by the Director of Standard and Accreditation, Alhassan Ndagi, gave the commendation while delivering a goodwill message at the flag-off of the N1.3 billion scholarship for nursing and midwifery students in Maiduguri.

The register applauded the performance of the nursing students from Borno, stating that every year at the national examinations, students from Borno score more than 90 per cent.