Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, has authorized the disbursement of N1.3 billion for scholarships benefiting 997 nursing and midwifery students who hail from the state,leadership reports.
Under the state’s scholarship program, 1,080 nominations were received, with 40 nominees from each of the 27 local government areas. Among these, 997 successfully passed an entrance examination to qualify for the scholarship.
The governor inaugurated the scholarship program at the College of Nursing and Midwifery in Maiduguri, emphasizing that the initiative aims to address the healthcare workforce shortage resulting from the state’s growing population.
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Governor Zulum outlined the allocation, stating that N1,305,189,000 has been earmarked for scholarships, with N124,149,000 designated for tuition fees. The remaining N1,181,040,000 will be disbursed as a monthly stipend of N30,000 to each beneficiary throughout their studies.
Additionally, Governor Zulum revealed plans for the construction of two nursing colleges, one in the north and another in the southern region of the state, scheduled for completion and commencement of academic activities in 2024.
The Commissioner for Education, Engr Lawan Wakilbe, highlighted the administration’s scholarship efforts, indicating that over N6 billion has been approved for scholarships since May 29, 2019, with N2.7 billion approved since May 29, 2023.
Furthermore, Governor Zulum awarded a N201 million bursary allowance to 2,010 students of the Maiduguri College of Nursing who were not included in the scholarship program. Each student received a bursary allowance of N100,000.
In addition to these initiatives, Governor Zulum commissioned a lecture theatre complex and a multipurpose hall for the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Maiduguri. He also announced automatic employment for the 997 scholarship beneficiaries and outstanding nursing students upon completion of their studies.
The Nursing Council of Nigeria (NCN) commended Governor Zulum for his dedication to enhancing nursing practice in Borno. The Registrar of the Council, Dr. Farouk Umar Abubakar, praised the governor’s unprecedented scholarship initiative, noting its significance as the largest in Nigeria thus far. He also lauded the exceptional performance of nursing students from Borno, consistently achieving over 90 percent in national examinations.
