The Nasarawa State Government has disbursed over N592 million as bursary allowances to 16,756 indigent students studying in various tertiary institutions across the country.

Governor Abdullahi Sule announced this during the official flag-off of the disbursement in Akwanga, headquarters of Akwanga Local Government Area, describing the initiative as a bold investment in the state’s future.

Sule said education remains the top priority of his administration, reflected in the 36 percent budgetary allocation to the sector in the 2025 fiscal year.

According to him, the state has restored international scholarships, currently sponsoring 155 students pursuing different courses abroad. He also noted that hundreds of nursing and university students are being sponsored locally to strengthen the state’s manpower base.

“We have also paid the 2025 NECO registration fees for over 24,000 secondary school students in public schools to ease the burden on parents,” he said, directing the Scholarship Board to begin preparations for the 2025/2026 bursary exercise.

Executive Secretary of the State Scholarship Board, Hajia Sa’adatu Yahaya, said 25,000 students applied through the portal, out of which 17,762 were shortlisted. After physical verification, 2,006 applicants were found to no longer be students, bringing the final figure to 16,756 beneficiaries.

She added that bursary payments ranged between ₦30,000 and ₦90,000, depending on the course of study, and assured that transparency and accountability would remain the board’s watchwords.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, NASSA National President, Ovey Abimiku, expressed gratitude to the governor for his consistent support to students across the state.