…Says Scholarship Scheme Not For Political Gains
By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, on Tuesday commenced the distribution of scholarship forms to applicants who are indigent students to enable them pursue various degree courses across the nation’s institutions of higher learning.
The state governor stated that the scholarship scheme is neither for any political gains, nor strategy for elections, but to alleviate the sufferings of indigent students, who had been struggling to meet up with their tuition fee.
In a brief interaction with our correspondent shortly after flagging-off of the distribution of application forms given students of tertiary institution in the state at the state scholarship board office, Old Secretariat, Calabar, Ayade averred that the idea is a way of encouraging young people who are determined to pursue academic programmes in school, not to the band wagon of school drop out.
Speaking on behalf of the state governor, the Director General, DG, Cross River State Scholarship Board, Nuella Tessy, stated that with the scholarship scheme initiated by the state governor, a lot of students are sure of realizing their dreams, rather than dropping out from school, just because they cannot afford to meet up with their financial obligations.
She said, “This is a testimony to be told. The governor has approved the release of forms. The process had just commenced.
“We are giving out forms and by the grace of God, very soon, people who applied for the scholarship and scaled through the screening process, would begin to receive their alerts.”
The governor, who did not give the exact number of students who are to benefit from the scholarship, stated, “Because of extreme financial needs of the people, following out break of COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of families became broke. Parents have gone through a lot after the pandemic.”
The DG enumerated the criteria to benefit from the scholarship initiative to include: being an indigene of Cross River State, who must possess university genuine admission to pursue degree course in any of the disciplines.
She added, “To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must show admission letter offered them by their institutions of higher learning.”
When asked to give explanation on why the governor didn’t offer scholarship to students through out the time he served the state as governor in the last seven years only to initiate the programme few months to his exit from the seat of governor, Ayade’s aide stated that the initiative has no political undertone nor any political gains.
She said, “The governor who is jostling for position of senator to represent Cross River North senatorial district at the upper chamber of the National Assembly in the forthcoming 2023 election stated that before now had been giving scholarship to many pursing professional courses like medicine, law and engineering with out making noise.”
The DG maintained that many had benefitted from the governor’s benevolence, adding that the scholarship scheme ongoing now is for interest of the state and not Ayade.
“This particular scheme is powered by state government. This is government and not Ayade scholarship award. It was here even before Ayade came on board as state governor,” she added
The DG revealed that students who are qualified to apply for the scholarship include: undergraduate, post graduate, Post-Graduate Diploma, PGD, M.Sc and applicants pursuing doctorate degree programmes.
