By Sarah NEGEDU
A total of 16,225 indigenous and indigent students in the Federal Capital Territory are expected to benefit from a N300 million scholarship scheme by the FCT Administration.
The amount, which the FCT Administration says captures the 2023/2025 award session, was rolled out Wednesday by the FCT Minister.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony for the scholarship disbursement to the beneficiaries, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, noted that though the figure was an improvement from last session’s award, it was “just scratching the surface.”
The minister who noted that education was the bedrock of any development, assured that the FCTA would continue to attach more importance to the scholarship scheme so as to provide educational services to the needy.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Chidi Amadi, the minister regretted that teachers were not given appropriate recognition, even as he prayed they would be accorded their rights in terms of welfare and other areas.
He appealed to teachers not to be discouraged when resources are not sufficient, advising them to continue to make the best out of what they have.
In his address, Secretary, Education Secretatiat, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, praised the FCT Minister for commitment education in the Territory.
He disclosed that under the Wike-led administration, more than N230 billion has been invested into education so far on capital projects, especially on “rehabilitation and construction of new schools and educational facilities across all the Six Area Councils in FCT.”
Hayyo also revealed that the minister has granted approval for FCT schools to participate in global science events such as the World Robotic Festival and Continental Open Africa AI Championship in Houston, Texas and Cape Town, South Africa.
According to him, “These achievements by FCT Schools are testament of the dedication, hard work, and talent of the students made possible by the improved teaching and learning conditions in FCT Schools provided by His Excellency, Nyesom Wike.
“In addition, the Hon. Minister has approved the conduct of training and retraining of FCT School teachers at all levels, including the provision of vocational skills training for students, youths, women, and out-of-school-children in FCT.”
The Secretary thanked the minister for his support to the secretariat and for granting approval for the scholarship disbursement.
On her part, Director of the Board, Hannah David, revealed that the board, since inception in 2020, has supported education of 146,000 FCT indigenes and indigents, many of whom are doing well now in different fields.
She explained that the scholarship support scheme covers basic, post-basic, special need centres, Nigerian Law School, and foreign tertiary institutions, cutting across all categories of students, including special needs ones, who are also given wheel chairs and other materials.
David expressed gratitude to the FCT Minister and Education Secretary for their support, and appealed to other stakeholders to help the board, noting government could not do it alone.
On the disbursement, the director regretted that FCT students who should be at the FarmCraft Centre, Lagos, were unfortunately still at home, awaiting directives from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs for resumption.
The director therefore, appealed for increment in the scholarship grant, saying it became necessary following prevailing economic realities.
