Lagos state government has affirmed that the sum of N961,935,817 has been paid to students in various tertiary institutions who are Indigenes of Lagos state as Bursaries and scholarships.
Omotayo Fakolujo, Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Scholarship Board dropped the hint while addressing newsmen on the activities of the board in the last three years.
He said that the board has been performing in a gradual and systematic way, especially in the sales of forms and payment of awards.
Fakolujo added that the current administration of the Board has been unprecedented with a massive turnaround in human capacity development, operational utility and infrastructure renewal.
He said the new administration brought on board an operation that is seamless, fast and reliable and that collection of registration forms is now done both electronically and physically.
He added that indigenes in Lagos State Government-owned tertiary institutions who went through the Indigeneship Verification Exercise at the point of entry upon given admission by these institutions are now exempted from the Board’s screening exercise provided the applicant produce his/her Indigeneship Verification Certificate (IVC).
Speaking further he said sensitization has taken a new dimension, that the Board now visit campuses during any of their special programmes to sensitize the student populace about the opportunities availing them, while still using the normal method of sensitization.
“Payment of monies to beneficiaries is now done electronically. Gone are the days of paying through verve cards. During the first-ever award ceremony organized for beneficiaries, it is on record that over 1,500 beneficiaries received credit alerts same time. This is unprecedented. The success of this has made some successful Organizations wanting to partner with the Board for subsequent Award Ceremonies.
“I can boldly confirm to you that since the inception of the present administration in the state, indigenes and non-indigenes have greatly enjoyed the magnanimous gesture and humane disposition of Mr Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, through constant payment of Bursary and Scholarship Awards which is much needed financial support to sustain them in their academic growth.
“As one of the THEMES pillars of this administration, education requires the involvement of all stakeholders and well-meaning individuals in the society.
Fakolujo thereby appeals to Social Organizations and Corporate Bodies to partner with the Board in order to channel appropriately their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) towards the provision of scholarship to deserving students, thereby contributing to the development of their immediate environment.
