Kogi State Government has commenced the disbursement of N646.8 million in bursary allowances to 20,347 indigenes studying in tertiary institutions across Nigeria for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The flag-off ceremony, held on Thursday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Lokoja, was performed on behalf of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo by the Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones.
Under the scheme, each eligible student will receive N30,000, while medical students will receive an enhanced allowance of N75,000 in recognition of the higher financial demands associated with medical education.
Speaking through the commissioner, Governor Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reducing the financial burden on students and creating an enabling environment for Kogi indigenes to pursue higher education.
He also commended student leaders for maintaining constructive engagement with the government, urging them to continue to embrace dialogue in addressing issues affecting students.
The governor assured the students of an open-door administration, stressing that his government remained accessible, particularly to young people.
Ododo further described education as a major priority of his administration, saying the government would sustain and increase its investment in the sector through improved funding and institutional development.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the immediate past administration of former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello to the expansion of tertiary education in the state.
According to him, the establishment of universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, the College of Nursing and other specialised institutions under the previous administration has expanded access to higher education in Kogi.
He noted that the availability of courses such as medicine, law and nursing within the state had also reduced the need for students to travel outside Kogi to pursue such programmes.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Scholarship Board, Afolabi Joseph Raji, disclosed that the N646.8 million would cover 20,347 beneficiaries.
He said N403 million was presented at the ceremony as the first batch of the payment, covering about 13,000 students studying in tertiary institutions within Kogi State.
According to him, more than 7,000 students studying outside the state would be captured in the second batch.
Raji added that medical students would begin receiving their payments immediately, followed by other beneficiaries, assuring that all 20,347 students would receive their allowances before the end of the week, subject to the completion of the disbursement process.
He described the development as a significant expansion of the state’s student-support programme, noting that only about 8,000 students benefited during the first cycle.
Also speaking, the outgoing National President of the National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS), Sunday Adeola Simon, commended Governor Ododo for approving the bursary disbursement.
Simon recalled that the application process began in September 2025 but experienced delays before reaching the payment stage.
He said student leaders chose dialogue and constructive engagement throughout the period, despite calls for disruptive action, expressing appreciation to the government for eventually responding to their concerns.
He described the bursary as an important intervention in supporting students and appealed to the governor to extend similar assistance to Kogi indigenes studying outside the state and those attending the Nigerian Law School.
The ceremony was attended by government officials, education stakeholders, student leaders and representatives of Kogi students.
