Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has approved a significant increase in the state's bursary allowance for students, raising it from ₦20,000 to ₦50,000 per beneficiary—a 150% increase. The announcement was made on July 14, 2026, through a press release signed by the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah.
₦1.3 Billion Released for Bursary Payments
Governor Eno also authorized the immediate release of ₦1.3 billion to fund bursary payments for eligible students across the state. This move is part of the ARISE Agenda, aimed at reducing financial barriers to education. The governor described the intervention as a deliberate investment in human capital development, intended to ease the financial burden on student households.
₦1.968 Billion for Examination Fees
In a separate approval, ₦1.968 billion was allocated to cover examination fees for students in public basic and secondary schools. The funding covers the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examinations, and various state-administered assessments, including the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), the Common Entrance and Placement Examination, the Senior Secondary II Promotion Examination, and entrance examinations into Senior Science Colleges and Government Model Girls' Secondary School.
Breakdown of Examination Fee Allocation
According to the commissioner, ₦1.368 billion has been earmarked for WASSCE and related costs, covering National Identification Number registration, biometric capture, science practicals, Continuous Assessment, monitoring, and examination administration. An additional ₦50 million will fund NABTEB examinations, while ₦550 million has been set aside for the conduct of key state examinations.
Total Investment Exceeds ₦3.2 Billion
Commissioner Umanah stated that the combined approvals represent an investment of more than ₦3.2 billion in the state's education sector, positioning the package as one of the most significant education expenditures under the current administration. Governor Eno directed the Ministry of Education and relevant agencies to begin implementing the approvals immediately, with a specific mandate to ensure that no student is turned away from examinations due to an inability to pay fees.
