Ondo Disburses N396m Bursary, Scholarship To Indigenous Students

Ondo disburses N396 Million bursary, scholarship to indigenous students of the state

The Ondo State Government says it is disbursing N396 million to 32,784 indigenous students of the state in the country’s tertiary institutions as bursaries and scholarships for the 2013 scheme.

The Chairman, Ondo State Scholarship Board, Mr Dayo Awude, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Akure.

According to Awude, the money has been released for the payment of last year’s bursary and scholarship awards.

“The sum of N320 million is earmarked for bursary for 32,000 students, while N76 million is for scholarships and financial assistance to 784 students and we have commenced payment.

He said that some students had problems with their bank account details, adding that the board had communicated with them and they had been responding and correcting the errors.

Awude said that for a student to qualify for regular scholarship, which is N100, 000, he or she must have a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.0.

The student must also write and pass a qualifying test.

“Each successful applicant under this category receives N100, 000 and this is called regular scheme,’’ the chairman said.

He also said that all Ondo State indigenes in Law Schools and medical students from clinical levels were entitled to N50, 000 each under the government’s automatic scholarship.

Awude said that all physically challenged students in tertiary institutions of the state, who applied were given N50, 000 each without any test or requirement.

He stressed that it was a way of assisting and encouraging the “weak”.

According to him, any person who excelled in any other field is given an award under “special and automatic’’ scheme with a cash benefit of N100, 000 each.

“Any Ondo State indigene who is able to excel in any specific field like sports, education, and cultural display or achieve any other feat is entitled to N100, 000 every year.

“For bursary, the major qualification for one to apply is that he must be in a university, polytechnic, college of education, monotechnic or school of health and hail from Ondo State,” Awude said.

He expressed appreciation to the students for their loyalty and patience while the process of payment lasted.

He also commended Gov. Olusegun Mimiko for his approval and commitment to students’ yearning in spite of the excruciating financial competitiveness.

Also in an interview, Mr Awodola Afolayan, President, National Association of Ondo State Students’ Union (NAOSS), applauded the state government for the gesture.

Afolayan said that most of the students had received bank alerts of the payment and that the union had great trust in the board under the current chairman. (NAN)