… rewards executive secretary with plot of land in GRA for returning remaining funds after disbursement exercise …
Nasarawa State Government has offset backlog of bursary allowances to indigent indigenous students studying in various institutions of higher learning within and outside the state.
Nasarawa State Governor His Excellency Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule offset the backlog during the flagg-off of scholarship disbursement held at College of Education Akwanga on Thursday October 2nd, 2025 where he disbursed 2023 and 2024 scholarship to 18,762 students which cost the state 592, 223,000.
Elated by the practical display of sincerity, accountable and transparent leadership of scholarship board under the stewardship of Hajiya Sa’adatu Yahaya, Governor Abdullahi Sule announced a reward of a plot of land at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Lafia to the Executive Secretary of the Scholarship Board for returning over N122m being the remaining money from what she was given for disbursement.
” This money is going directly into the treasury of the state. I think this has shown that Nasarawa state has come of age as this is an unusual thing to happen. Because of that, we are going to allocate a plot to the recipient in the Government Reserved Area …
” I thank you sincerely for the transparency and for everything that you are doing in order to set a good example. We are taking this decisions in order to instill a level of discipline, prudence and honesty in the running of this administration ” The Governor stated.
Engineer Sule equally highlighted some of the successes so far achieved by his administration in the educational sub-sector stressing that Nasarawa state has improved in ranking as the state is no longer ranked low especially in NECO performance.
The state he noted emerged 5th nationally in recent assessment and attributed such progress to decisions taken by his administration that had made Nasarawa visible and more attractive for investment.
Engr. Sule stressed that the state government has decided to pay one hundred percent NECO registration fees for all SS3 students in the state recounted that 24, 000 students were supported in the last NECO examination in the state.
He explained that on assumption of office, being a beneficiary of foreign scholarship that made it possible for him to study at the Indiana State University in the United States, he reintroduced foreign scholarship which was scrapped due to the abuse found in the and lack of funds.
” Today, we have about 155 students who are studying outside Nigeria from Nasarawa state ” He disclosed.
At the home front, the Governor revealed that currently, Nasarawa state has over 38,580 students that are being sponsored in various institutions of learning within Nigeria – with over N2bn already expended on scholarships.
” Because of certain areas that we require, we have 50 nursing and midwifery students who are being sponsored at the flagship nursing and sciences school in Bichi, Kano state. We just concluded sending additional 12 students to the Azman University Kano and another 15 students to Mewar International University in Masaka ” He explained.
Governor Sule equally stated that when he assumed office in 2019, he met a backlog of unpaid scholarships for academic sessions between 2016/17, 2018/19 which his administration cleared.
The Governor outlined his administration’s annual budgetary allocations aimed at improving the standard of education in the state as follows; 26 percent in 2020 to 31, 35 and 36 percent in subsequent years. He equally congratulated the beneficiaries while he impressed it on them to utilize the funds strictly for their education purposes
Governor Sule equally spoke on the process of appointing a new Provost at the College of Education Akwanga, stressing that only persons with proven capacity to efficiently run the institution would be appointed as the substantive provost.
In his speech, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Education Dr. John D.W Mamman on behalf of the management and staff of the ministry, appreciated Governor Sule for his commitment to students as future leaders of the state.
“Just last week, while we were waiting for the result on our performance in WAEC, we came second to Benue in NECO. We are 5th in the entire country. You also flagged off the conditional cash transfer with no less than 14, 000 girls as beneficiaries for an amount not less than 30, 000 per girl. That goes a long way to support retention and conclusion of school,” He said.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Executive Secretary Nasarawa State Scholarship Board, Hajiya Sa’adatu Yahaya revealed that 25,000 students applied for the state government scholarships but after due diligence; 18, 762 scaled through the online screening.
She stressed that even though, Governor Sule went ahead to approve funds to cover all those that passed the online screening, the board undertook a review of the exercise where some underserving applicants were weeded out.
Hajiya Sa’adatu said as a result of the second exercise, the board had cause to return N122, 108, 000 out of the N592, 223,000 earlier approved for disbursement.
The board Executive Secretary thereafter presented a cheque to the Governor in the sum of N122, 108, 000.
She commended Governor Sule on his unwavering commitment to fostering academic excellence and empowering deserving students in the state, adding that by investing in students educational pursuit, government is investing in the future progress and development of Nasarawa state and the country at large.
Hajiya Sa’adatu called on the beneficiaries to work diligently and strive for academic excellence in their chosen disciplines as the continue to receive government support moving forward.
