Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has approved the release and disbursement of N100 million Education Trust fund to Persons Living With Disability (PLWD).
Similarly, Governor Eno has released funds for onward disbursement of bursary to all Akwa Ibom state students in public tertiary schools across Nigeria.
At the brief ceremonies on Monday at the State Secretariat’s complex, the Commissioner for Education, Idongesit Etiebet presented persons with disability in undergraduate programmes with cheques of 250,000 naira, while the beneficiaries in post graduate programmes received their cheques of 300,000 Naira
Speaking during the disbursement of funds to persons with disability, Idongesit Etiebet, expressed gratitude to Governor Umo Eno for the massive investments in the education sector over the last six months.
“I’m humbled and delighted, the Governor has been here for only few months and we’ve been blessed massively in the education sector.
“I want to thank Governor Umo Eno for the remodelling of schools, CKS is at 95 percent completion stage, there’s also another school flagged off in Eket.
Read also: Appeal Court upholds Eno’s election as Akwa Ibom governor
“Today, even entrepreneurs have benefited as tailors have been contracted to sew school uniforms for school children,” she said.
She charged the benefiting students to reciprocate the gestures of the Governor by studying hard to emerge with spectacular results.
“Every Government investments come with a corresponding return on investment. In this case, your excellent academic performances will be the benefits of this investments,” she said.
Etiebet thankeed Governor Umo Eno for keeping to the promises he made during the campaign by paying bursary to students and awarding scholarships to the disabled.
She also warned the recipients to desist from diverting the funds into extravagant and needless expenses, insisting that the money be channeled strictly to scholarship.
“We wish to inform Akwa Ibom people that Governor Eno is a promise keeper who has done many projects and has fulfilled his promise to prioritize the education sector.
“The money for the bursary payment to all Akwa Ibom Students, is in a designated account newly opened for disbursement and the money will be disbursed digitally, with N10,000 going to each student,” she said.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT, Frank Ekpenyong explained the modalities set up so far to enable students register effectively via bursary.akwaibomstate.gov.ng.
“We’ve made the website very simple, you can register with a phone number and an email would be sent to you for verification.
“You’ll upload your student registration number, valid student Identification card, Admission letter, certificate of origin, last school fee payment receipt and a recent passport photograph with a corresponding bank account details,” he said.
The ICT aide further explained that some institutions have provided Application Programming Interface (API) to aid the process which will last for the next six month.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare , Ini Adiakpan, represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Margaret Edem described the Governor as dynamic and thanked him for the scholarship as well as having the progress of the people.
Also the State Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAD ) and Director Administration, State Secondary Education Board Akwa Ibom State, Effiong Tom, thanked the Governor for listening to the plights of disabled persons, stating that the support would further motivate other disabled persons to seek admissions into institutions of learning.
In attendance also were, the SSA to the Governor on Research and Documentation, Essien Ndueso, The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Rose Bassey, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Margret Edem, SSEB Director School Services, Clement Ebong and a host of others.
