The Cross River State Government has awarded scholarships worth ₦10 million to 60 students from Abi Local Government Area under its 2025 Education Support Scheme.
The initiative, spearheaded by the State Commissioner for Environment, Moses Osogi, aims to promote academic excellence and reduce financial burdens faced by indigent students in tertiary institutions.
Each beneficiary received ₦150,000 during the award presentation ceremony held yesterday at the Sir Thompson Egbe Educational Foundation in Anong, Abi LGA.
Osogi explained that the scholarship programme was part of his commitment to human capital development and aligned with Governor Bassey Otu’s administration’s “Season of Sweetness” agenda. He said the gesture was designed to support hardworking students and ensure that financial challenges did not hinder their education.
“As someone who has passed through the challenges of being a student, I understand what it means to struggle for tuition and other academic needs. This support is to encourage you to remain focused and excel in your studies,” Osogi said.
He urged the beneficiaries to maintain a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.5 to qualify for future rounds of the programme, describing the scholarship as a legacy project that would be sustained annually.
The Commissioner also cautioned students against social vices such as cultism, examination malpractice, and impersonation, urging them to embrace hard work and discipline.
In his remarks, Dr. Pringle Egbe, Coordinator of the Sir Thompson Egbe Educational Foundation and Sector Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Port Harcourt, described the selection process as transparent and merit-based. He noted that only students who met the academic criteria were shortlisted.
Some beneficiaries, including Ntarezep Elijah and Inyang Emmanuel of the University of Calabar, expressed gratitude to the government and Osogi for the intervention, which they described as timely and motivating.
Goodwill messages also came from community leaders and local government officials, who commended the Commissioner for investing in education and empowering youths across the state.
Meanwhile, Osogi announced the flag-off of another ₦20 million scholarship scheme for students from Yakurr Local Government Area, noting that the initiative would cover a larger pool of beneficiaries due to the area’s population size and educational demography.
He reiterated that education remains a key driver of the state’s development and pledged to continue supporting Governor Otu’s vision of building a prosperous and knowledge-driven Cross River State.
