Umo Eno promises students N200,000 annual bursary

UYO, NIGERIA – Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has promised to increase the annual bursary for students in public tertiary institutions from N50,000 to N200,000 if re-elected for a second term in the February 2027 governorship election.

Eno made the pledge on Wednesday during a fireside chat on the second day of the Ibom Ignite 2026 Conference at Ibom Hall in Uyo, saying the proposed increase would take effect if he won the election and was sworn in for another term on May 29, 2027.

The governor said the planned increase was intended to ease the financial burden on students, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds, and help them meet their educational expenses.

He explained that his administration had increased the annual bursary to N50,000 for each eligible student and was considering a further adjustment to provide greater financial support to young people pursuing tertiary education.

“We started by paying bursary, we moved it, it’s now 50,000 for every student. But again, to show you that we’re engaging, we’re thinking about young people from 2027, as we come back May 29, 2027, to make sure that our young people who come from the kind of background I came from can at least pay their tuition, bursary will move to 200,000,” Eno said.

The proposed N200,000 annual bursary would represent a fourfold increase from the current N50,000 rate.

However, the pledge is conditional on the governor’s re-election and return to office in 2027.

Governor Reaffirms Commitment to Free Education

Beyond tertiary education support, Eno pledged to sustain free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary school levels.

He said the commitment to basic education remained part of his administration’s approach to supporting young people and improving access to learning across the state.

The governor’s remarks placed student bursaries and free basic education among the areas of educational support he intends to continue if he secures another term.

The proposed bursary increase would specifically benefit students in public tertiary institutions, while the free education pledge covers pupils at the primary and secondary levels.

Eno said the planned increase was particularly important for students from backgrounds similar to his own, emphasising the need to help young people meet the costs associated with their education.

The governor did not provide further details on the proposed implementation arrangements or the number of students expected to benefit from the increased bursary.

Ibom Ignite Grant Beneficiaries Urged to Invest Wisely

During the conference, Eno also urged beneficiaries of the N50 million Ibom Ignite business grant to invest the funds in their businesses rather than spend the money on personal pleasure or unproductive ventures.

He described the grant as seed capital intended to support business development and improve beneficiaries’ livelihoods.

The governor said recipients needed to manage the funds responsibly and use them to build sustainable businesses.

“A seed not properly planted and tended was as good as dead,” Eno said.

His remarks highlighted the importance of ensuring that business support programmes translate into productive investments and improved economic opportunities for beneficiaries.

The governor urged recipients to approach the grants with a clear understanding of their purpose, stressing that the money was intended to support enterprise development rather than immediate personal consumption.

The N50 million grant programme was discussed alongside the administration’s broader efforts to support young people and residents seeking opportunities to improve their economic circumstances.

Eno Promises 1,000 More Compassionate Homes

The governor also disclosed that his administration had built more than 500 Compassionate Homes for less privileged residents across Akwa Ibom State’s 31 local government areas.

According to Eno, each beneficiary received a N500,000 business grant to support their livelihood.

He promised to construct an additional 1,000 Compassionate Homes and provide accompanying business grants across the state’s wards if re-elected in 2027.

The proposed expansion would build on the existing programme, which combines housing support with financial assistance intended to help beneficiaries establish or sustain income-generating activities.

Eno said the planned intervention would extend assistance to more vulnerable residents across the state.

The governor did not provide a detailed implementation timetable or indicate how the proposed additional homes and grants would be funded.

Promises Tied to 2027 Re-election Bid

The commitments announced at the Ibom Ignite 2026 Conference include a proposed increase in annual student bursaries, the continuation of free and compulsory primary and secondary education, and the expansion of housing and livelihood support for vulnerable residents.

The bursary pledge is conditional on Eno winning the February 2027 governorship election and beginning a second term on May 29, 2027.

If implemented, the proposed increase from N50,000 to N200,000 would substantially raise the annual financial assistance available to eligible students in public tertiary institutions.

The proposed construction of an additional 1,000 Compassionate Homes would also expand the administration’s existing housing intervention, alongside business grants intended to support beneficiaries’ livelihoods.

The pledges now form part of the governor’s stated plans for a possible second term, with their implementation dependent on the outcome of the election and subsequent government action.

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