‎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.

‎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 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.