Posted by Chinenye on Fri 25th Sep, 2026 - tori.ng
A major financial boost for students in Kogi State has just been unveiled, with millions of naira set to reach thousands of beneficiaries across institutions in Nigeria.
(Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo. Photo Credit: Punch News)
Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo has launched the second phase of his bursary programme, releasing N646.8 million to support over 20,000 students attending universities and other higher institutions across Nigeria.
The ceremony took place Thursday at the Government House in Lokoja.
The governor's scholarship board chair announced that the bursary scheme, dormant since 2019, was revived last year with a significant boost.
Student payments jumped from N12,000 to N30,000, while medical students now receive N75,000 instead of the previous N18,000.
The board eliminated a previous system where students paid N650 for portal access cards with no assurance of receiving funds.
Applications are now free, completely online and transparent.
In the 2024/2025 cycle, the board paid out N256.4 million to nearly 8,550 undergraduates and N60.3 million to Law School students, with additional scholarships totalling N261 million.
For this cycle, 20,347 students have been verified to receive payments.
Money will roll out in stages, starting with students in Kogi institutions.
The first batch of N403 million covers 13,157 students on campuses within the state.
Remaining funds will go to students at over 300 institutions outside the state including universities in Abuja, Zaria and Kano.
The board introduced student engagement projects including a campus quiz challenge and a weekly radio quiz on a local station where participants win up to N5,000.
The scholarship board also received a utility vehicle for campus visits.
Education claims 30 per cent of the state budget, officials noted.
The number of verified beneficiaries jumped from 8,000 in the first season to over 20,000, an increase of 130 per cent.
The administration also pays entrance and final exam fees for secondary school students and provides free exam prep training.
Student leaders thanked the governor, saying the support shows students remain a priority.
They appealed for the programme to include students studying outside Kogi and those attending Law School nationwide.