Sanwo-Olu Approves Over N375m to Empower Lagos Indigenes on Education

In a bold move to support the academic pursuits of Lagos State indigenes, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has approved the payment of N375,455,000.00 (Three hundred and seventy-five million, four hundred and fifty-five thousand naira) for both fresh and subsequent Scholarship and bursary awards.

This fund is designated to alleviate the financial burdens faced by Lagosians pursuing higher education across the country.

Abdur-Rahman Lekki, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Scholarship Board unveiled this development during a recent meeting with key stakeholders in his office.

Mr. Lekki underscored Governor Sanwo-Olu’s unwavering commitment to advancing education within the state.

The governor’s vision, he said, was to make education accessible, affordable, and sustainable, adding that this was evident in the timely disbursement of these funds.

Lekki emphasized the government’s profound concern for the youth and their educational journey, and its pledge to provide accessible and affordable education, irrespective of the country’s economic challenges.

Breaking down the allocation, Lekki explained that N164,500,000.00 (One Hundred and Sixty-Four Million, Five Hundred and Thousand Naira) had been earmarked for the 2021/2022 fresh scholarship award for undergraduate, masters and PhD (Batch B), 2021/2022; subsequent scholarship award for undergraduate and PhD, and 2022/2023 subsequent scholarship award for undergraduate and PhD recipients as well as the 2022/2023 governor’s discretionary awards.

Furthermore, an allocation of N210,955,000.00 (Two Hundred and Ten Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand Naira) had been approved for the 2021/2022 fresh bursary award for U
undergraduates and Law School (Batch B), 2021/2022 subsequent bursary award for
undergraduates, and 2022/2023 subsequent bursary award for undergraduates.

Lekki reassured beneficiaries awaiting disbursement that the release of funds would commence promptly as soon as the necessary administrative processes were concluded.

In addition, Mr. Lekki informed the public that applications for the Year 2022/2023 Fresh Scholarship and Bursary Awards had been successfully completed, with academic and indigenship verification P
processes set to commence.

Students were encouraged to regularly check their emails for updates, he stated.

“As part of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s “T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda,” the Lagos State Scholarship Board is set to introduce Special Categories of Scholarships, focusing on the Poor and Vulnerable, as well as People Living With Disabilities. This aligns with the intensified emphasis on Social Inclusion, Gender Equality, and Youth in the coming four years”, Lekki said.

He proudly noted that the Lagos State government had a long history of subsidizing education within the state, utilizing bursaries and scholarships to assist both indigenes and residents in achieving their educational aspirations.

This tradition, according to him, dated back to 1968 when the Board was first established.

“The Lagos State Scholarship Board remains steadfast in its commitment to administering bursary and scholarship awards effectively, striving to make higher education accessible to all” he said.