Source: http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=166131Kebbi State government has spent over N9.2 million for the purchase of forms for this year's Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to be conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
While presenting the forms to five zonal education officers in Birnin-Kebbi, for onward distribution to eligible students in their respective zones, Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Yusuf Rukubolo said the forms should be distributed free of charge to indigent, but eligible students.
He further directed that the forms should be given to only candidates with a minimum of five credits in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
“The state government has been assisting children of the poor who cannot afford to buy the forms and gain admission into any of the tertiary institutions either in the state or outside.”
He disclosed that the state government had released the sum of N540 million for the payment of tuition fees, scholarship allowance and financial assistance to indigenes of the state studying in various tertiary institutions
within and outside the country.
In another development, Governor Saidu Dakingari has pledged adequate funding for the state University of Science and Technology Aliero.
Dakingari, who made the pledge while receiving the chairman and members of the institution's governing council, who paid him a courtesy visit, said his administration was ready to fund the institution adequately so as to maintain its lead among universities in the country.
“The state government is satisfied with the performance of the university within the first three years of its take-off and I assure you that government will continue to provide necessary funds to the university”, he said.
While assuring that his administration would continue to make education its priority, he said a committee had been set up to proffer solutions for the sector's improvement and that government would implement all its recommendations.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of university's Governing Council, Justice Umaru Atu Kalgo thanked the government for the autonomy it gave to the institution and called for more funds to enable the university achieve its goals.
