Lagos pumps over ₦297m into Scholarships, Literacy Programmes

The Lagos State Government has increased stipends and scholarship payments across its education sector, disbursing over ₦297 million to students and beneficiaries as part of efforts to strengthen tertiary education and adult literacy programmes in the state.

Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, disclosed this on Wednesday during a ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, to mark the third year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

Sule revealed that the state government had doubled the monthly stipends paid to facilitators, instructors and external coordinators involved in adult literacy programmes.

According to him, facilitators who previously earned ₦25,000 monthly now receive ₦50,000, while stipends for instructors and external coordinators were increased from ₦30,000 to ₦60,000 monthly.

He added that payments covering all four quarters of 2025 had already been fully settled following a verification exercise conducted for facilitators, instructors and coordinators.

The commissioner also highlighted efforts by the state to improve adult education through literacy programmes, digital learning integration and assessment exercises targeted at measuring academic progress among adult learners.

Beyond literacy programmes, he said the Lagos State Scholarship Board recorded significant financial interventions in support of students across various academic categories.

Sule disclosed that the government increased bursary awards from ₦50,000 to ₦60,000, while scholarship grants rose from ₦200,000 to ₦225,000.

“Under the bursary scheme, 3,138 undergraduate students received ₦60,000 each, bringing the total disbursement to ₦188.28 million.

“The state also paid ₦26.77 million to 119 Nigerian Law School students who received ₦225,000 each under the scholarship programme.

“In addition, three beneficiaries under the One-Day Governor initiative received ₦225,000 each, amounting to ₦675,000.

“For postgraduate education, the state awarded ₦35.55 million to 79 PhD students who received ₦450,000 each, while 133 Master’s degree students received ₦350,000 each, amounting to ₦46.55 million,” Sule said.

The commissioner said the scholarship board also introduced a Special Scholarship for Inclusion targeted at Persons Living With Disabilities, vulnerable groups and economically disadvantaged residents.

According to him, the board has continued to automate its operations to improve transparency and efficiency in scholarship administration.

Sule further disclosed that the state entered into partnerships with private organisations and foundations to expand educational support for outstanding students.

Among the partnerships highlighted was an arrangement with RETECH to reward the top 20 scorers in the Basic Education Certificate Examination annually.

The state also partnered with SOHCAHTOA to support five Lagos indigenes with ₦250,000 each, while the Oyekan and Oladunni Adeniji-Adele Foundation committed to sponsoring two students for two years with ₦100,000 each.

The commissioner maintained that the interventions formed part of the Sanwo-Olu administration’s broader strategy to improve access to education, encourage academic excellence and reduce the financial burden on students and educators across Lagos State.