Benue captures 30,000 students for bursary awards

Over 30,000 students of Benue State indigenes are to benefit from bursary allowance.

The Principal Special Assistant to Benue State Governor on Youth and Student Affairs, Jocab Nevkaa disclosed this to Arewa PUNCH in an exclusive interview in Makurdi.

Nevkaa also said that the state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia’s administration, had sponsored over 50 youths overseas to acquire basic knowledge and skills.

The governor’s aide said that the present administration had also reviewed upward the  bursary allowance to students of Benue indigenes

Though, the governor’s aide did not specify the approved new bursary allowance but Arewa PUNCH reliably gathered that the previous administration last paid N10,000 bursary allowance to each of the 12,000 students that applied.

Nevkaa said, “The governor discovered that students have not been getting bursary allowance, and as such ordered that the portal be opened for students to apply.

“Over 30,000 students applied, considering the hardship and economic reality on the ground. The governor decided to review upward, the bursary allowance.

“Although, the pronouncement will soon be made, and that would have been done earlier, but because of the new minimum wage, the government needs to settle that first.

Continuing, he added, “The governor within this short period has also sponsored over 50 youths overseas to acquire basic knowledge which can be of benefit to the state when they return.

Meanwhile, Father Alia’s aide called for consistent engagement with youths and students to expose them to policies and programmes of the government.

This, according to him, will foster peace and unity between the leaders and the youths and prepare them (the youths) for political offices in the future.