Ambode approves N380m for bursary, scholarship payments.

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

Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, who made the announcement to journalists on Monday, said the bursary would be for fresh beneficiaries and others receiving subsequent payment.

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

While stressing the commitment of the State Government to sustain the scholarship and bursary scheme in spite of the economic situation of the country, Bank-Olemoh said the Governor is committed to ensuring Lagosians are empowered through education to contribute productively to the local and global economies.

He further said that “the timely release of the awards demonstrates the priority the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode accords to educating its citizens”.

Giving a breakdown of the payment, the Executive Secretary of Lagos State Scholarship Board, Mr. Steven Oshinowo, explained that the State Government would disburse Two Hundred and Fifty Million, Five Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty-Seven Naira and Ninety-Nine kobo (N250, 523, 287.99) to Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty (6,368) beneficiaries as Bursary Award.

He also disclosed that One Hundred and Thirty Million, One Hundred and Sixty-six Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty-six Naira Fifty-six kobo (N130, 166, 386.56) in Local Scholarships will be disbursed to Five Hundred and Seventy-three (573) successful candidates who took part in the 2015/2016 Local Scholarship Computer Based Screening test.

These sums, according to him, would accommodate the backlog of outstanding bursary and scholarship payments, as well as current awards for fresh and subsequent beneficiaries.

The Executive Secretary urged the beneficiaries to exercise patience as disbursement of the funds will commence in three weeks, at which time beneficiaries would be invited to present relevant documentation to receive their bursary or scholarship awards.

It will be recalled that 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 for bursary, local and foreign Scholarships

Germany Increases Scholarship Slots For Nigerians

The new Consul-General of the Consulate-General of Germany in Lagos, Mr Ingo Herbert, on Tuesday announced his government’s decision to increase scholarships for Nigerians and other Africans.

 

Herbert told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that his government had at its recent bilateral meeting decided to increase its annual scholarships from 450 to “a more reasonable number”.

 

“Before now about 450 Nigerians benefit every year from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
“But from our recent bilateral meeting, the German government has decided to increase its annual scholarships to Nigeria and other countries from 450 to a much more reasonable number,’’ he said.

 

Herbert said that the initiative was part of the German’s human development agenda aimed at giving more Africans opportunities to go and study in different German educational institutions.

 

The envoy also said that it had become imperative to increase the scholarships following the growing interest of Nigerians and other African in studying in Germany.

 

“We have realised that after the U.S. and U.K., most Nigerians and other foreign students like coming to study in Germany,’’ he said.
The consul-general said that German universities and colleges had started courses in English Language so as to be able to accommodate more Nigerians.

 

He restated his government’s commitment to encouraging and creating the right learning environment for the would be beneficiaries of the scholarships.

 

Herbert also expressed satisfaction with the successes currently being made by some Nigerians that had benefited from the scholarships in the past in their professions.

 

(NAN)

Buhari Urged To Scrap N100bn Foreign Scholarship

The Commonwealth Youth Council has urged the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to abolish foreign scholarships in the country after he assumes office on May 29.

In a statement issued by the CYC chairperson, Ahmed Adamu, in London on Saturday, the council said close to N100bn is spent on foreign scholarships annually by the Federal Government.

According to Adamu, who is also an economic expert, the expenditure had resulted in the abuse of the naira and triggered devaluation of the currency. He said this figure is extremely higher when adding the cost of other self-sponsored foreign education programmes.

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