By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
In fulfilment of his campaign promises of enhancing educational development in Akwa Ibom, Governor Umo Eno has commenced disbursement of N100 million Education Trust Fund to Persons Living with Disability in the state.
He has also released funds for onward disbursement of bursary to all Akwa Ibom state students in public tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
At the brief ceremonies yesterday in Uyo, Education Commissioner, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet who presented persons with disability in undergraduate programmes with cheques of N250,000 each while the beneficiaries in post graduate programmes recieved cheques of N300,000 lauded Eno for the massive investments in the education sector over the last six months.
“I am humbled and delighted, the Governor has been here for only few months and we have 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.
“Today, even entrepreneurs have benefited as tailors have been contracted to sew school uniforms for school children.” Etiebet added.
The commissioner charged the benefiting students to reciprocate the gestures of the Governor by studying hard to emerge with spectacular results and thanked him for keeping to the promises he made during the campaign by paying bursary to students.
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.
“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 10,000 Naira going to each student.” She said.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT, Dr Frank Ekpenyong explained the modalities set up so far to enable students register effectively via bursary.akwaibomstate.gov.ng.
Ekpeyong further explained that some institutions have provided Application Programming Interface (API) to aid the process which will last for the next six month.
In a goodwill message, state Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAD ) and Director of Administration, State Secondary Education Board, Mr 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.
Personal Assistant to the Governor on Persons with Disability,Ubong Ikpe and President, National Association of Akwa Ibom Students, NAAKISS, Ubong Ekwere, both commended the Governor for keeping his promise to prioritize the education sector and for also approving bursary, scholarships as well as remodelling of schools across the state.
