Cross River Assembly Calls for re-introduction of Scholarship, Bursary Awards

By Itam Offor

The Cross River State House of Assembly has called on the State Government, through the Ministry of Education and the Scholarship Board, to reintroduce scholarship and bursary awards to Cross River students.

The Lawmakers had deliberated on a Motion presented by the Member representing Yakurr 2 State Constituency and the only female legislator in the Assembly, Hon Mercy Mbang Akpama.

Leading the debate on her motion, Akpama reiterated that scholarship awards are for deserving students, based on merit and also for those without financial resources to pursue their academic endeavours.

She lamented that, for over 8 years, the State Scholarship Board has not implemented any scholarship programme and urged them to source scholarship opportunities for deserving students.

" The Board, as part of its mandate, also sources funds from Public-spirited individuals, private companies, NGOs...NDDC, Central Bank of Nigeria etc, to enable it to sponsor scholarship programmes.

"If there is no urgent action taken by the Board to reintroduce Scholarship/Bursary programmes, l am afraid, the efforts towards developing manpower in the State through our educational system may be defeated". She stressed.

Co-sponsors of the motion including, the Deputy Leader of the 10th Assembly, Rt Hon Davies Etta as well as other Lawmakers, all supported the motion, adding that it will greatly enhance the improvement of education in the State.

The Lawmakers restated Governor Otu's commitment to improving the educational sector as evident in the renovation of the State Library Complex, payment of WAEC, fees amongst other interventions.

They further urged the Government to implement a special fund targeted at students' scholarship to enhance the sustainability of the programme.

In his comments, the Speaker of the 10th Assembly, RT Hon Elvert Ayambem, thanked the sponsor of the motion as well as the Members for supporting the motion which he described as 'timely'. He assured that the Governor, who is very responsive to the well being of Cross Riverians, will respond favourably to the resolution.

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