The Ebonyi State Government has offered more than N2 billion scholarship to 597 persons in the state.
The State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, made this known on Tuesday in Abakaliki during a press conference on outcome of the the State Executive Council meeting for the week.
According to Okpor, the amount covers tuition fees, research funding and living expenses for the beneficiaries.
The State Executive council also approved that civil servants who sailed through the screening process for the scholarship, should be granted study leave with pay in addition to other privileges.
“Following Council’s approval of the list of 597 successful candidates to study in Nigerian universities as submitted by the State Scholarship Board, over N2 billion was approved by exco.
“This amount covers school fees, research funding and living expenses of the scholarship beneficiaries. Council further resolved as follows: That the research funds be paid to the universities alongside the school fees to avoid mismanagement by beneficiaries.That civil servants who sail through the eligibility processes of the scholarship programme are to be granted study leave with pay in addition to other privileges.
“In order to ensure smooth take-off of academic activities in the University of ICT, Oferekpe, Agbaja and Aeronautic Engineering University, Ezza, Council approved eight faculty and hostel buildings.
“Exco had earlier approved the construction of the above-mentioned buildings and further approved the award of contracts and release of funds to successful bidders for immediate commencement of the project.”