26th August, 2011
Lagos State government has spent N1.340 billion on provision of scholarship to deserving students in the state’s tertiary institutions in the past four years just as the government has restated its commitment to the provision of qualitative education for progressive development of the state and the citizenry.
The Deputy Governor, Hon. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, made the disclosure at the official presentation of ATM Verve Card to 1,349 students who met the requirements for this year.
This year’s figure, she disclosed, is part of the total number of 36,179 indigenes of the state in various tertiary institutions across the country who have benefited to date from the state government’s scholarship in the last four years.
She explained that provision of quality education is crucial to the realisation of government’s 10-point agenda, noting that the state government realised the pivotal role education plays in defining the socio-political development of the society.
“The state government understands the pivotal role that education can play in defining social political development and the growth and advancement of our state and the nation,†she said.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s office, Mr Kunle Ajanaku, Hon. Adefulire stated further that the state government equally encouraged brilliant academic competition among its students by awarding special scholarship to some of them with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.5 and above.
While calling on the new beneficiaries of the bursary awards to make judicious use of the money, the Deputy Governor stated that the initiative aimed at assisting them to pursue their goal in education and to equip them with necessary tools and knowledge that will enable them to realise their aspirations early in life.
She urged the students to justify government’s huge investment in education by pursuing their academic career rigorously.
“On our part, we will continue to give the necessary moral and financial support, knowing that you are the leaders of tomorrow and agents of sustainable growth and development in Lagos state and the nation in general,†she assured.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Special Adviser to Governor Fashola on Education, Hon. Fatai Olukoga, noted that the award of bursary to indigenes of the state has greatly ameliorated the suffering of indigent students in tertiary institutions who ordinarily could have abandoned their studies due to financial constraints.
He added that the sum of N149, 010,130.80 will be presented to 3,028 students who took part in the year 2009/2010 Bursary Award interviews conducted in the 5 administrative divisions of the state and other zones outside Lagos state.