The Borno State government, under Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, has invested N9.7 billion in scholarships for indigenous students in 2024, covering studies in tertiary institutions within Nigeria and abroad. The Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, disclosed this during a briefing after the first 2025 executive council meeting held at the Government House in Maiduguri.

Engr. Wakilbe revealed that 30,616 undergraduate students studying fields such as Law, Science, Medicine, Nursing, and Engineering in Nigerian institutions received N4.29 billion in scholarships. Locally, 335 postgraduate students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses were awarded N382 million. For international studies, N2.32 billion was disbursed to 132 undergraduate students in China and Egypt studying Medicine and Engineering, while 287 postgraduate students in India and Malaysia received N2.69 billion for STEM-related courses.

In total, 31,369 students benefited from the 2024 scholarship program, and Governor Zulum has approved sponsorship for over 30 new students pursuing Aviation courses in 2025. Institutions such as the College of Nursing in Maiduguri and Al-Ansar University host hundreds of beneficiaries, while foreign scholars study at universities including Jinzhou Medical University in China and Integral University in India.

Highlighting the strategic importance of these scholarships, Engr. Wakilbe stressed that the program is designed to address the workforce needs of the state, especially in the aftermath of insurgency challenges. “These scholarships will ensure the state has a robust pool of professionals to drive its recovery and development in critical sectors,” he said. The program’s expansion in 2025 reaffirms the government’s commitment to education and capacity building for the state’s future.