Nasarawa Scholarship Fund Disbursement Raises Concerns Among Students

The recent disbursement of scholarship funds in Nasarawa State has sparked concerns among students, with allegations of exclusion and poor organization.

Despite the state government's claim of disbursing ₦592 million to 16,756 students, some beneficiaries have come forward claiming they never received their payments, while others cited errors in names and biometrics.

The Nasarawa State Government, under Governor Abdullahi Sule, flagged off the disbursement of bursary allowances to indigent students in various tertiary institutions across the country. The Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Scholarship Board, Hajiya Sa'adatu Yahaya, explained that out of 25,000 applicants, 17,762 were shortlisted, and after physical verification, 2,006 applicants were found to be ineligible, resulting in the refund of ₦122 million to the state government .

Some students, including Zakariyya Dauda and Friday Umbugadu Amos, have questioned the transparency of the process and demanded a full breakdown of funds. Dr. Ayuba Umar, a concerned citizen, has called on the Board to publish the list of successful beneficiaries, detailing amounts, institutions, and IDs, to ensure fairness and accountability .

The Nasarawa State Government has emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability in the disbursement of scholarship funds. Governor Sule has directed the scholarship board to commence preparations for the 2025/2026 academic session allowances and ensure that allocations are used strictly for educational purposes .