Borno Govt approves N1.3bn scholarship for 997 nursing, midwifery students
L-R Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, Commissioner of Education, Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe, Rep Registrar of Nursing Council, Alhassan Ndagi and Rep. Beneficiaries at the flag off of N1.3b scholarship for nursing students by Zulum.
By Dauda Iliya
The Borno State government has approved 1.3 billion naira scholarship for 997 indigenes of the state who recently secured admission to study nursing and midwifery
Launching the scholarship programme at the College of Nursing and Midwifery in Maiduguri, Governor Babagana Zulum said the scholarship programme will help bridge the deficit of frontline health workers which the state was in dire need of.
According to him, out of the total amount, 124 million was earmarked for tuition fees while the remaining 1.1 billion will be disbursed as monthly stipend of 30,000 naira to each beneficiary throughout their study years.
The Governor also approved the sum of 201 million as bursary allowance to 2,010 students of College of Nursing who were not part of the scholarship package.
He directed that each of the over two thousand students be credited with the allowance of 100,000 naira.
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 Registrar, Nursing Council of Nigeria, Dr Farouk Abubakar has confirmed that this is the first time any state government would approved such quantum of money as scholarship for students of nursing and midwifery.
Represented by the Director of Standard and Accreditation, Alhassan Ndagi, commended the performance of nursing students from Borno.
Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Lawan Wakilbe, disclosed that from May 29, 2019 to date, the administration had approved over six billion naira for scholarship with 2.7 billion naira of that amount approved from May 29, 2023 to date.
