By Musa Tanimu Nasidi
Senator representing Kogi west Senatorial district, Senator Smart Adeyemi,on Thursday,30th of December 2021, disbursed bursary funds and Automated Teller Machines(ATM) to 350 qualified students of Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency.
While addressing the beneficiary, the lawmaker said the annual bursary award was part of his own ways to support tertiary institution students from across the 7 local government areas of his senatorial district that are brilliant but have financial challenges to pursuepursue their higher education.
Adeyemi further stated that he believes that the bursary scheme would not only promote qualitative education among young adults from the senatorial district, but would also have long-term positive effects on the economy of the state and Nigeria by extension.
He explained that all the beneficiaries, irrespective of courses of studies and schools were chosen by a non-political and independent Bursary Advisory Board for transparency and fairness purposes.
“The board members were the ones who did the background checks and screened all the applicants who were up to 4,800 based on criteria set for the purpose and finally picked 2,500 successful ones from the number for this year.”
The Lawmaker who hinted that the bursary scheme was not for only Lokoja and Kogi LGA said it covered the seven local government areas of the senatorial district.
“We are only flagging off that of Lokoja/Kogi federal constituency today while other constituencies will follow.
Adeyemi advised the beneficiaries not to waste the funds but to make judicious use of them to enable them achieve their goals which is education.
He further advised them not to allow the aim of the bursary to be defeated by using the fund to engage their project works, assignments, purchase required materials and books and as well use the fund to support their school fees.
In his remarks, Chairman of Lokoja local government area, Hon. Muhammed Dan’asabe Muhammed, lauded the effort of the benefactor, saying the impacts would be huge and transcend the direct beneficiaries and their families.
According to the Chairman, good education and capacity building are the best investments to give to youth anywhere globally “we commend Senator Adeyemi for contributing this much to advance education pursuits of indigent youths in the senatorial district.”l
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with Newsmen commended lawmaker, stressing that the bursary funds meant alot to them as students especially at this harsh economic crunch .
“if all politicians,political appointees and elected officials can emulate Senator Smart Adeyemi ; the students will not face challenges,like school dropout” he said.
The event was attended by the council Chairman and reps of Kogi local government Chairman, chietains of All Progressive Congress from the area.
