From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki.
Chairman of Ebonyi State Scholarship Board, Chief Chaka Nweze said the state government would spend N3 billion on 263 foreign students.
Nweze disclosed this to newsmen after briefing beneficiaries of the foreign scholarship at the Government House, Abakaliki.
The board chairman explained that Governor Francis Nwifuru had released N3 billion for Masters and doctorate degrees for the students.
He commended the governor for providing the necessary support to the beneficiaries, adding that the board does not have any challenge.
“We do not have any challenge as regards the foreign scholarship because the board is being funded by the governor. The beneficiaries of foreign scholarship have been profiled and we have equally paid their tuition fees. Any moment from now, their living expenses will be given to them.
“From Masters to doctorate degrees, at the end the day, the state government will spend close to N3 billion
“For the national scholarship this year alone, government will spend M15 billion. Meanwhile, the governor has released N10 billion for the foreign scholarship. It may need to release another N500 million for their logistics because we have to provide flight tickets and visa for each student including passport for those that do not have.
“Ebonyi State government has started engaging foreign universities. Before now, I had traveled to the United Kingdom alongside the commissioner for tertiary institution to engage the university we are using for now and we are in touch with them. They have given us mode of operations to follow.
“We have total of 263 foreign scholarship candidates that will depart to the United Kingdom by the end of this month and the first batch is 212,” he explained.
