Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has announced the approval of N1.3 billion for scholarships aimed at supporting 997 nursing and midwifery students from the state.
The governor made this declaration during the inauguration of the scholarship program at the College of Nursing and Midwifery in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
Out of the 1,080 nominations received, with 40 students nominated from each of the 27 local government areas of the state, 997 students were deemed eligible to benefit from the scholarship program.
Governor Zulum further stated that the 997 beneficiaries would be guaranteed automatic employment upon graduation.
The governor emphasized that this support was provided to encourage the students to complete their studies, thereby addressing the workforce demand within the state’s healthcare system.
Governor Zulum outlined the allocation for the scholarship program, stating that a total of N1,305,189,000 was set aside, with N124,149,000 designated for tuition fees.
The remaining N1,181,040,000 would be disbursed as a monthly stipend of N30,000 to each beneficiary throughout their course of study.
Additionally, the governor announced that N201 million would be allocated as a bursary allowance to 2,010 nursing and midwifery students who did not benefit from the scholarship. Each of these students would receive N100,000.
Governor Zulum also mentioned that the ongoing construction of two colleges of nursing would be completed within the year.
During the inauguration ceremony, he unveiled a lecture theatre complex and a multipurpose hall with a capacity of 3,000 at the College of Nursing and Midwifery.
Lawan Wakilbe, the Commissioner for Education, disclosed that the state government had approved over N6 billion for scholarships, with approximately N2.7 billion already disbursed to students from Borno State studying in higher institutions across the country.
