By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
GOVERNOR Babagana Zulum of Borno State has launched a N12.9 billion scholarship scheme to sponsor 54 indigenes of the state to study aeronautics and engineering at the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM).
The comprehensive five-year programme covers basic pilot training alongside specialised engineering courses. Ten beneficiaries 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 yesterday, Governor Zulum presented a cheque of N2.5 billion to the institution, representing the annual tuition and associated costs. The total package for the five-year training programme is valued at N12.9 billion.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the governor urged them to remain focused and dedicated to their studies. He stressed that the selection process was carefully structured to ensure fairness and inclusivity, with two students selected from each of Borno’s 27 local government areas.
“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.
In addition to funding their education, the governor announced an immediate financial support grant of N500,000 for each student to cover resumption logistics and incidental expenses.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, revealed that the scholarship scheme attracted widespread interest across the state, with over 3,000 applications received. The applicants were initially shortlisted to 1,200 candidates, who sat a written examination, from which the final 54 were selected.
“These programmes reflect Governor Zulum’s commitment to human capital development, youth empowerment and investment in education,” Wakilbe said.
The founder of IBUAM, Isaac Balami, an indigene of Borno State, commended the governor for the initiative and assured the government that the students would receive world-class training. He expressed confidence that some of them would eventually contribute to building Nigeria’s first locally manufactured aircraft.
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