A
abujagirl
Guest
The House of Representatives Committee on Education on Thursday asked the Federal Government to stop the 2015/2016 Presidential Special Scholarships for Innovation and Development on the grounds that the scheme was loop-sided and Northerners were being sidelined.
PUNCH reports that the committee, chaired by a lawmaker from Kano State, Mr. Aminu Suleiman, met with the Chairman of the Implementation Committee, Prof. Julius Okojie, in Abuja on Thursday.
During the meeting Suleiman claimed that northerners were sidelined in the awards, leading to what he called “education imbalance and monumental abuse.” He observed that out of the 104 short-listed for the scholarships this year, none came from the North-West and North-East. Also, the North-Central received only seven slots, while the FCT also did not get any.
Responding to the Committee on Education, Prof Okojie said, that no considerations other than merit qualified the beneficiaries for the awards. Unless we are saying that the criteria have to change, I will not advise that the programme should be scrapped.
The scholarship is meant for First Class graduates who were under the age of 30.
PUNCH reports that the committee, chaired by a lawmaker from Kano State, Mr. Aminu Suleiman, met with the Chairman of the Implementation Committee, Prof. Julius Okojie, in Abuja on Thursday.
During the meeting Suleiman claimed that northerners were sidelined in the awards, leading to what he called “education imbalance and monumental abuse.” He observed that out of the 104 short-listed for the scholarships this year, none came from the North-West and North-East. Also, the North-Central received only seven slots, while the FCT also did not get any.
Responding to the Committee on Education, Prof Okojie said, that no considerations other than merit qualified the beneficiaries for the awards. Unless we are saying that the criteria have to change, I will not advise that the programme should be scrapped.
The scholarship is meant for First Class graduates who were under the age of 30.