The Borno State Government has released N1,649,048,000 outstanding scholarship obligations to students for payment of tuition and accommodation fees, welfare packages and international educational commitments.

The Executive Secretary of the State Scholarships Board, Bala Isa, announced the approval at a news conference on Tuesday in Maiduguri.

He said that the intervention was a reflection of the Governor Babagana Zulum administration’s commitment to education as a tool for rebuilding the state and empowering its youths.

According to him, the funds will cover the outstanding 2024/2025 scholarship awards for students in universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

“The package includes tuition and accommodation fees for 272 medical students at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare and tuition payments for 34 MBBS students at Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri. Part of the package is also fees for 60 students studying at the Nigerian Institute of Leather Science and Technology, Zaria.

“Additional allocations will provide six months’ allowances for nursing students under the state scholarship programme and educational support for 300 orphans of counter-insurgency volunteers.

“These also include return airfare for postgraduate and undergraduate scholars studying in India, Malaysia and China,’’ he said.

Mr Isa described the beneficiaries as future doctors, engineers, scientists and professionals whose expertise would contribute to the state’s long-term development.

He emphasised that the scholarship board had commenced administrative processes to ensure prompt disbursement of funds to institutions and the beneficiaries.

The executive secretary commended Mr Zulum for prioritising education despite prevailing challenges.

He noted that sustained investments in scholarships and skills development remained central to the administration’s vision of building a prosperous, peaceful and educated state.

(NAN)