Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has announced a ₦689.79m bursary disbursement to 19,318 students across 97 institutions and unveiled a new scholarship scheme for 1,700 high-performing students from the state’s 34 local government areas.
Under the new scheme, 50 of the best-performing NECO and WAEC students from each local government area will receive scholarships to study Nursing, Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Agriculture and Education in state-owned institutions.
Radda announced the initiatives on Monday, October 12, 2026, at the Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management, alongside a 100 per cent increase in bursary allowances for the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, the bursary increase ends 18 years of stagnant allowances dating back to 2007 and is intended to ease the financial burden on students and their parents.
The governor also approved a 150 per cent increase in bursary allowances for Veterinary Medicine students in 300 and 400 levels, while those in 500 and 600 levels would receive a 200 per cent increase.
Additionally, 56 Katsina indigenes studying at the Nigerian Law School will receive ₦500,000 each, amounting to ₦28m.
Radda said total bursary payments and student awards under his administration had exceeded ₦3.29bn, compared with more than ₦2.6bn previously disbursed.
On foreign scholarships, the governor disclosed that the state was sponsoring 118 students in Egypt, Ethiopia and China, with an upkeep commitment exceeding ₦1.7bn, apart from tuition, accommodation and health insurance.
He said 41 students were studying Medicine in Egypt, 10 were in Ethiopia, while 33 were pursuing Artificial Intelligence and 34 Bioengineering in China.
The governor charged the Katsina State Scholarship Board to maintain transparency, proper verification and accountability in managing public funds, stressing the need to ensure that assistance reaches eligible beneficiaries.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Scholarship Board, Dr Aminu Salisu Tsauri, said the board had returned ₦86m in unclaimed bursary funds to the state coffers through improved digital verification.
Tsauri also disclosed that 14,925 new applicants had been screened for payment before the end of 2026, although the statement did not specify how many had received final approval.
He further announced a ₦3.27bn scholarship package for 44 students at Nahda University in Egypt, adding to the state’s international education commitments.
The Commissioner for Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, Sani Aliyu JB Daura, and the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirates Affairs, Bashir Tanimu, said the interventions demonstrated the administration’s commitment to inclusive and competitive education.
Radda urged students to remain focused on their studies and uphold good conduct, while calling on the scholarship board to sustain accountability in implementing the programmes.
The government did not disclose the total financial allocation for the new scholarship scheme covering 1,700 local students or specify the individual award amounts and application timeline.
West Trybe reports that the bursary disbursement and expanded scholarship programmes represent a combined effort to reduce education costs and support students pursuing priority disciplines. However, the financial impact of the new local scholarship scheme will become clearer when the government announces its budget, individual award values and implementation details.
