The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Wednesday, in Abuja commenced disbursement of over N200 million to 8,236 students for the 2020 and 2021 session in the FCT.
The Secretary for FCTA Education Secretariat, Alhaji Sani El-katuzu, made the disclosure while performing a symbolic presentation of scholarship award letters to some of the beneficiaries at the FCTA Secretariat.
El-Katuzu reiterated the commitment of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, in providing education assistance to indigent pupils and students of the FCT at all levels of education.
The secretary, who advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the learning materials and cash given to them, called on well-meaning individuals, corporate bodies and organisations to support the education of children.
”Because it was no longer feasible for government alone to shoulder the responsibility of educating Nigerians.”
Earlier, the Director, FCT Scholarship Board, Mrs Hannah David, disclosed that out of the total of 8,236 beneficiaries, primary schools got 2,229 slots.
”While Junior Secondary Schools benefited 2,184; comprising 948 for senior secondary schools and skills acquisition centres were awarded 179.
”Other categories included special needs centres which got 343, Nigerian tertiary institutions 2,318, while foreign tertiary institutions got 30 and five braille students, among others.”
David revealed that the board had been granted approval by the FCT Minister to key into a special needs programme with the Nigerian Farm Craft Centre for the Blind, Isheri Olofin, Lagos, under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
She also disclosed that the board had received another ministerial approval to begin batched-training of the best 20 indigenous FCT students in WAEC and NECO examinations in foreign tertiary institutions every award session.
Also, the Chairman, FCT Scholarship Board and the Gomo of Kuje, Alhaji Haruna Tanko, commended the secretary and FCTA for keeping faith with the awards.
He decried the dwindling scholarship budget, saying that insufficient funds kept piling up scholarship applications.
Represented by Mr Usman Adejo, Tanko also charged the beneficiaries to use the scholarships judiciously and make the FCT proud.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, President, Abuja Indigenous Students Association (AISA), Abdullazeez Ibn Abdullahi expressed gratitude to the board and the FCTA.
Abdullahi, who assured that they would do their best to justify the investment in them, appealed for increment in the funding to enable more students to benefit. (NAN)
