Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has approved a N12.9 billion scholarship scheme to sponsor 54 indigenes of the state to study aeronautics, engineering and professional aviation-related certifications at Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management.
The governor’s Senior Technical Assistant on Print and Digital Communications, Abdulrahman Bundi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that the comprehensive training programme includes basic pilot training.
The beneficiaries will specialise in key areas critical to the aviation industry.
Ten students will study Aerospace Engineering, 11 Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 11 Mechatronics Engineering, 12 Software Engineering, and 10 Systems Engineering.
At a brief ceremony held at the Government House in Maiduguri on Thursday night, Zulum presented a cheque of N2.5 billion to the institution, representing the annual tuition and associated costs. The five-year scholarship package is valued at N12.9 billion.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the governor urged them to remain focused and committed to their academic pursuits, stressing that the opportunity comes with great responsibility.
“What matters most is not just gaining admission, but how focused you will be in your studies. I advise you to remain dedicated and become good ambassadors of our state,” Zulum said.
He explained that the selection process was structured to ensure fairness and inclusiveness, with two students drawn from each of Borno State’s 27 local government areas.
In addition to covering tuition and other academic expenses, the governor approved an immediate financial support of N500,000 for each beneficiary to assist with resumption logistics and other incidental costs.
Providing insight into the selection process, the State Commissioner for Education, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, revealed that more than 3,000 applications were received from across the state.
According to him, the applicants were first pruned to 1,200 candidates who sat for a written examination, from which the final 54 scholars emerged based on merit.
Wakilbe described the initiative as a reflection of the governor’s commitment to human capital development, youth empowerment and strategic investment in education.
Founder of the university, Isaac Balami, who is an indigene of Borno State, commended the governor for what he described as a visionary intervention in the aviation sector.
He assured the state government that the beneficiaries would receive world-class training and expressed optimism that they would contribute to the production of Nigeria’s first locally manufactured aircraft.
