After 10 years, Rivers LG chair resumes bursary payment, lifts 400 students

The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi has awarded bursaries to over 400 students from different institutions across the country.

The beneficiaries, who are all indigenes of Ogu/Bolo were drawn from 16 tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of health sciences.

Speaking at a brief but colourful ceremony in Ogun/Boko, Bipi said the gesture was the first batch of the bursary scheme, pointing out that modalities are being worked out to award the same to the second batch of students.

The CTC chairman further said the gesture was anchored on his policy thrust to promote academic excellence, ease the financial burden of tertiary education on parents and guardians, as well as reduce the rate of school dropouts by indigent students in the area.

Bipi said, “We consider this intervention a priority amidst the current economic crunch in the country where school authorities are in dire straits to maintain the standard of education as parents and guardians struggle financially to sustain the education of their children and wards in higher institutions.

“Providing timely financial relief in the form of a bursary to the student community is a vital lifeline for most of the students whose academic journeys were on the brink of being cut short due to financial difficulties.

“It also underscores our unwavering commitment to the welfare of the student community as encapsulated in my youth development policy of empowering young people with education and skills development to enable them reach their full potentials.”

Hon. Bipi added, “We consider this as a valuable investment in the future leaders of Ogu/Bolo local council and a deliberate step towards securing the future of young people.

“We are committed to sustaining the payment of bursary, thereby promoting education inclusion, increasing access to higher education, and mitigating financial difficulties and other barriers impeding academic advancement in the area.”

In her remarks, the Secretary of the Bursary Committee and former Vice Chairman of Ogu/Bolo local council, Christy Tamunobereton, thanked the council chairman for the gesture, saying students from the area had not benefited from bursary in the last 10 years.

She added, “I want to thank him for meeting the students at the exact point of their needs, mitigating the stress of school fees, purchase of textbooks and their care. I want to thank him for putting the students first and putting Ogu/Bolo first.

“This is a gesture that has not been experienced for over 10 years. I want to use this opportunity to thank the chairman for this show of love.”

Speaking with our correspondent, one of the beneficiaries, Mary George, from the University of Port Harcourt, expressed gratitude to the council chairman, saying it will go a long way in addressing some of her needs.

South-South PUNCH correspondent who covered the event reports that some of the students were from the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola in Port Harcourt, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, University of Port Harcourt, Abia State University, Uturu, Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Rivers State, Rivers State College of Health Technology, Babcock University, Ogun State, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State among others.

https://punchng.com/after-10-years-rivers-lg-chair-resumes-bursary-payment-lifts-400-students/