As part of alleviating the suffering of students, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has approved the payment of ₦10,000 to each indigene who is studying in a public institution.
The payment which will be paid through an innovative bursary payment portal has already commenced with some students applauding the transparent nature of the process.
According to Dr Frank Ekpenyong, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT and Digital Services, the initiative reflects Governor Eno’s commitment to sound education and his quest to uplift the state’s academic community.
Ekpenyong, who led the team that developed the portal in collaboration with the Ministry of Education said the portal will serve as an exclusive gateway for bursary applications and payment.
“This user-friendly portal ensures swift payment processing upon validation, granting immediate disbursement upon meeting the necessary criteria. Students are required to submit specific documents including a valid ID card, admission letter, certificate of origin, last school payment receipt, and a current passport photograph for seamless validation and payment processing.
“The digital platform stands as the sole authorized channel for bursary applications. Students are urged to exercise caution and avoid any pseudo or secondary websites to prevent misinformation or misrepresentation,” emphasised Ekpenyong.
He stated that payments will be directly credited to the provided bank accounts upon successful registration. Furthermore, measures have been implemented to deter fraudulent activities, ensuring fair and equitable distribution among eligible candidates.
To aid students in the registration process, he stated that various support channels such as dedicated control room, call centre, live chat and email assistance have been established. Additionally, extensive outreach programmes will be conducted to facilitate application processes and assist students in need.
Addressing concerns during a Q&A session, Ekpenyong reinforced the importance of adherence to the portal’s guidelines and revealed that some students have applauded the seamless registration process.
“Each Akwa Ibom student in a public tertiary institution is entitled to this support.The people-centric Governor has made adequate funding available for all beneficiaries. You need not belong to any group or political party. We’ve instituted measures to verify and validate applications to prevent exploitation and secure the benefits for genuine students”
While encouraging students to commence their registration immediately via the portal for prompt processing and payment, he noted that the bursary scheme marks the beginning of a transformative initiative aimed at supporting education and empowering the future leaders of Akwa Ibom State.