The Borno state governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved N1.3 billion scholarship for 997 nursing and midwifery students who are indigenes of the state.
The scholarship programme received about 1,080 nominations, 40 from each of the 27 local government areas of the state. However, after an entrance examination, 997 passed and qualified to benefit from the scholarship.
The governor launched the scholarship programme Wednesday at the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Maiduguri.
Zulum noted that with the scholarship, the beneficiaries would, on graduation, bridge the workforce demands in the state’s healthcare service delivery due to the increasing population growth.
He said: “The government has allocated a total of ₦1,305,189,000 for scholarships, with a breakdown of ₦124,149,000 earmarked for tuition fees.
“The remaining ₦1,181,040,000 will be disbursed as a monthly stipend of ₦30,000 to each beneficiary throughout their studies.”
Governor Zulum further stated that his administration was constructing two colleges of nursing, one in the northern part of the state and the other one in the southern part.
The governor assured that the two colleges would be completed and opened for academic activities this year.
Highlighting the government’s efforts, the Commissioner for Education, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, stated that from May 29, 2019 to date, Zulum’s administration had approved over N6 billion for scholarship with N2.7 billion of that amount approved from May 29, 2023 to date.
