…Commits Over ₦3.2bn to Education
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has approved the release of ₦1.968 billion for the payment of examination fees for students in basic and secondary schools, bringing the state government’s recent investment in the education sector to more than ₦3.2 billion.
According to a statement signed by the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, the approval is part of the administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality education, sustaining free and compulsory education, and reducing the financial burden on parents and guardians across the state.
The statement said Governor Eno had directed the Ministry of Education and other relevant departments and agencies to immediately implement the approval to ensure the prompt payment of all examination-related fees and prevent any eligible student from being denied the opportunity to sit for examinations because of financial constraints.
It stated that ₦1.368 billion of the approved funds would cover the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and related expenses, including National Identification Number (NIN) registration, online and offline biometric registration, science practical examinations, Continuous Assessment (CASS), monitoring, and examination administration.
The government also approved ₦50 million for National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examination fees, while ₦550 million was earmarked for the conduct of key state examinations, including the Common Entrance and Placement Examination, Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Senior Secondary II Promotion Examination, the Entrance Examination into Senior Science Colleges, and the Entrance Examination into Government Model Girls’ Secondary School.
The intervention, according to the statement, is expected to benefit thousands of students across Akwa Ibom State by removing financial barriers to education, improving learning outcomes, and promoting equal opportunities regardless of socio-economic background.
The statement further noted that the latest approval comes in addition to the ₦1.3 billion already committed to the 2025/2026 students’ bursary scheme, underscoring the administration’s continued investment in human capital development and its resolve to build an education system that equips young people with the knowledge and skills needed for future success.
It added that the Akwa Ibom State Government remains committed to implementing policies and programmes that place education at the centre of sustainable development and social transformation while ensuring that no child is denied educational opportunities because of financial limitations.