News
Katsina Scholarship Board Refunds N86m Unclaimed Bursary to State Coffers
Reading in data-saving mode. Read full article from This Day website.
Published 10/12/2026 9:54:26 AM
Katsina Scholarship Board Refunds N86m Unclaimed Bursary to State Coffers – THISDAYLIVE
Francis Sardauna in Katsina
The Katsina State Scholarship Board has refunded N86 million unclaimed bursary funds to the state government following the introduction of improved digital verification and accountability measures by the state government.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr. Aminu Salisu Tsauri, disclosed this on Monday during the flag-off of bursary payments for the 2025/2026 academic session by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda at the state-owned Institute of Technology and Management.
He said the recovery of the unclaimed funds was made possible through improved digital verification processes aimed at ensuring that public funds reach only eligible beneficiaries.
He added that the state scholarship board had screened 14,925 new applicants for bursary payments, with disbursement expected before the end of 2026.
He said: “The Katsina State Scholarship Board has returned N86 million unclaimed funds to the state government’s coffers through improved digital verification. 14,925 new applicants have been screened for payment before the end of 2026.”
Flagging off the exercise, Governor Radda said his administration has increased bursary allowances by 100 per cent and commenced the disbursement of N689.79 million to 19,318 verified students across 97 institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session.
He explained that the review ends 18 years of stagnant bursary rates since 2007 and will ease the financial burden on students and parents across the state.
He announced a 150 per cent increase for Veterinary Medicine students in 300 and 400 levels, 200 per cent for those in 500 and 600 levels, and N500,000 each for 56 Katsina indigenes at the Nigerian Law School, totaling N28 million.
On foreign scholarships, Radda said the state is sponsoring 118 students — 41 studying Medicine in Egypt, 10 in Ethiopia, 33 studying Artificial Intelligence and 34 Bioengineering in China — with an upkeep commitment exceeding N1.7 billion, plus tuition, accommodation and health insurance.
He said total bursary payments and student awards by his administration now exceed N3.29 billion, from over N2.6 billion previously disbursed.
Radda also unveiled a new local scholarship scheme for 1,700 students – 50 best performing NECO and WAEC students from each of the 34 LGAs – to study Nursing, Engineering, ICT, Agriculture and Education in state-owned institutions.
He charged the Scholarship Board to sustain transparency, verification and accountability in managing public funds.
§
Jobberman Nigeria, Nigeria’s leading career development and recruitment solutions company, has launched ‘Her Next Move’, a campaign designed to empower young Nigerian women with practical skills and confidence to pursue career opportunities and participate more fully in the workforce.
Through free online training, the initiative supports women aged 18 to 35 as they prepare to enter the workplace, advance into better roles or explore freelance and gig work.
Built around the message ‘Your Future. Your Skills. Your Move’, the campaign places female inclusion at the centre of career development, encouraging women to take an active role in shaping their professional futures. It connects the ambition to progress with an accessible starting point: learning skills that can help women prepare for their next opportunity.
‘Her Next Move’ recognises that career progress looks different for every woman. For a graduate, it may mean preparing for a first job. For a woman already working, it may involve developing the skills to take on greater responsibility or pursue a new role. For another, it may mean understanding how to navigate freelance work and participate in the global gig economy. The campaign brings these aspirations together through a shared emphasis on learning, preparation and action.
This Initiative by Jobberman in partnership with Mastercard Foundation promotes two courses: Jobberman Soft Skills Training and Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker. Both courses are free, with a free certificate upon successful completion.
Jobberman Soft Skills Training focuses on workplace readiness, helping participants build the professional skills needed to navigate work and prepare for career progression. Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker introduces participants to the demands and opportunities of freelance and gig work, supporting women interested in exploring career paths beyond traditional employment.
By making the training and certification available at no cost, ‘Her Next Move’ reduces the financial barrier to participation and encourages more young women to invest in their professional development. Its focus extends from raising awareness of learning opportunities to helping participants follow through and complete their chosen course.
To bring the campaign to life, Jobberman is working with young creators who are sharing personal stories about ambition, career transitions and the role of learning in their journeys. Through videos, social media posts and follow-up conversations, the creators encourage young women to reflect on their own goals and identify the practical steps they can take towards them.
These stories are intended to make career development relatable, connecting everyday aspirations with opportunities to learn. Across the campaign, the question “What is your next move?” invites women to define progress for themselves and begin preparing for it.
‘Her Next Move’ reinforces Jobberman’s and Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to supporting career development and expanding access to learning for young Nigerian women. By combining free skills training with relatable storytelling and encouragement to take action, the campaign seeks to help more women feel prepared to pursue their ambitions.
