Kogi State Government has flagged off the online registration of students for the 2025 Bursary Allowance, with assurances that more students will benefit as challenges experienced in the previous year will be addressed.
Speaking at the launch on Monday at the Ministry of Education Conference Hall, Lokoja, the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, said the initiative tagged “Ododo Students Support Season 2” is in line with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s strong commitment to educational development.
According to Hon. Jones, the first phase of the bursary allowance scheme, which benefited 8,750 students, served as an experimental year.
He noted that critical lessons were drawn from it and pledged that the second phase would run more smoothly.
He also called on the leadership of the National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS), led by Comrade Sunday Adeola to intensify efforts in sensitizing students to take advantage of the opportunity.
In his address, the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Scholarship Board, Mr. Afolabi Joseph Raji, commended Governor Ododo for revitalizing the scholarship scheme immediately after assuming office.
He described education as one of the governor’s foremost priorities and urged students to apply in large numbers, stressing that low turnout had limited the reach of the scheme in 2024.
“His Excellency remains highly committed to the welfare of Kogi State students,” he affirmed.
Mr. Afolabi further disclosed that only applications completed after due screening would be considered valid. He also announced that officials of the Scholarship Board will embark on sensitization visits to tertiary institutions across the state to guide students on the registration process.
The online portal officially opened on September 29 and will close on October 31, 2025.
Dignitaries at the flag-off ceremony included the Vice Chancellor of Kogi State University Kabba, Prof. Kehinde Eniola, former State Coordinator of AGILE, Dr. Abdulhakeem Bello, Director of Administration of the Scholarship Board, Mr. Onu Ali,; and the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education Mrs. Balikisu Omolayo Onozare.
