Ambode approves N380m for payment of bursary, local scholarship

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday approved the payment of bursary and local scholarship to Lagos State indigenes in tertiary institutions across the country.

Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, who made the disclosure while speaking to journalists, said the beneficiaries would be fresh applicants and others receiving subsequent payment.

Bank-Olemoh listed the beneficiaries to include 2015/2016 set and other sets receiving second and third payments for years 2013/2014 and 2014/2015.

He said that the state government was committed to sustaining the scholarship and bursary scheme in spite of the economic situation of the country.

According to him, the governor is committed to ensuring that indigenes are empowered through education to contribute productively to the local and global economies.

“The timely release of the awards demonstrates the priority the administration of Gov. Ambode accords to educating its citizens,’’ he said.

Giving a breakdown of the payment, the Executive Secretary of Lagos State Scholarship Board, Mr Steven Oshinowo, said that the State Government would disburse the sum of N250, 523, 287.99 to 6,368 beneficiaries as bursary award.

Oshinowo also said that N130, 166, 386.56 in local scholarships would be disbursed to 573 successful candidates who took part in the 2015/2016 Local Scholarship Computer- Based Screening Test.

According to him, these sums will accommodate the backlog of outstanding bursary and scholarship payments, as well as current awards for fresh and subsequent beneficiaries.

“We urge beneficiaries to exercise patience as disbursement of the funds will commence in three weeks, at which time beneficiaries will be invited to present relevant documentation to receive their bursary or scholarship awards,’’ he said.

Earlier this year, over 689 bursary beneficiaries of 2011/2012 set were paid along with 60 students from the School of the Blind and 54 others on Sport Scholarship.

In 2015, the state government also paid N660 million to over 8,567 indigent beneficiaries as bursary and scholarship.