JOHN MAYAKI
We received the news of the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State approving the whooping sum of N1 Billion yesterday for bursary for indigenous students in tertiary institutions across the country. It was a cherry news.
Apart from Okpebholo’s intervention in agriculture, road construction among others, this is another major and popular policy decision he has taken worthy of commendation and support. And so, I have decided to look into the past for a contrast of where we are coming from while excluding the era of Chief Lucky Igbinedion.
For many, bursary payments were once a vital form of social intervention, designed to support indigent students across Nigeria. In the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, bursary disbursements were not only popular but expected as a gesture of responsible governance.
In Edo State, however, bursary payments became a thing of the past after 2008. The last time the government officially released funds to support students. The administration of Professor Oserheimen Osunbor initiated the payment, although it was marred by controversy. The scheme was reportedly limited to students of tertiary institutions within the state, leaving many outside the state excluded. There are also reports of accusations of poor coordination and widespread exclusion which led to protests that prompted his successor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to scrap the scheme entirely.
Since then, bursary payments in the state became history. Under Oshiomhole, educational support was granted only to students who applied and were fortunate enough to get the Governor’s personal approval. This approach, while helpful to some, but not structured and inclusive policy that bursary schemes are meant to be.
When Mr. Godwin Obaseki campaigned for election in August 2016 he promised bursary. Particularly, it was at a campaign event in Ekpoma. He promised to revive both scholarships and bursary programs across all state-owned institutions.
However, that commitment never materialized. For his entire eight-year tenure, not a single bursary payment was recorded. Not even the students dared to ask. The fear of repression under his administration, known for its intolerance of dissent, was palpable.
Today, hope is rekindled. Governor Monday Okpebholo has made moves to revive the bursary scheme, which is a return to people-oriented governance we have always yearned for. His promise has generated excitement among students and parents alike, many of whom had given up on such support ever returning.
However, for the bursary scheme to be effective and sustainable, certain reforms must be prioritized: First, there must be a functioning scholarship board or agency. Secondly, existing laws governing bursaries and scholarships should be reviewed and updated to reflect current realities and thirdly, the Ministry of Education must collaborate with tertiary institutions to generate a verifiable list of bona fide Edo State students, preventing impostors from benefiting through falsified local government documentation.
Many young people have never experienced bursary support. For them, it is a new and welcome development. According to several students, “We’ve heard about bursaries, but never witnessed them. If Governor Okpebholo actualizes this promise, it would change the lives of many.”
For me, this policy declaration, in conjunction with the federal government’s NELFUND student loan scheme under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is the reason why states must collaborate with the government at the center instead of antagonist it like we experienced under Obaseki. Both the federal and state government have taken steps toward reducing the burden on students. The Okpebholo administration’s intervention would serve as a local complement to federal efforts and as such, the proverbial icing on the cake.
Now, our state is on the brink of reclaiming its legacy of educational support. If fully implemented, the reintroduction of the bursary scheme under Governor Okpebholo would provide relief to struggling students. But beyond that, it would also tell of how responsive the Okpebholo’s administration is shaking the future of our student with people-centered leadership.