By Sylvia Akpan
The Cross River State House of Assembly has called on the State Government to reintroduce the scholarship and bursary scheme for indigenous students.
The House in a motion moved during plenary on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 by Honorable Mercy Mbang Akpama, Member representing Yakurr II State Constituency, decried the prolonged absence of scholarship and bursary awards for students,.
Honorable Akpama held that absence of scholarship and bursaries places huge burden on many families and discouraged academic pursuit among indigenous students.
The Lawmaker emphasized that the Cross River State Scholarship/Bursary Program is a crucial initiative of the government to support its citizens in accessing higher education.
She averred that “the award is meant to help brilliant but financially constrained students to complete their academic journey. Sadly, this important social responsibility has been abandoned,” the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Matthew Okache, quoted her saying.
Hon. Mercy further stated that students previously sent abroad on scholarships under the previous administration could not complete their studies due to the negligence of the Scholarship Board, which has since failed to reintroduce any form of scholarship support in the state.
According to her “The board is mandated to source funding from spirited individuals, NGOs, corporate bodies, and development agencies such as the NDDC, CBN, and SSDC, to sponsor scholarship programs, yet no meaningful steps have been taken.
“If urgent action is not taken to reintroduce this program, we may be risking the future of thousands of intelligent young Cross Riverians,” she warned.
The motion was supported by members, who acknowledged the importance of reviving the scholarship scheme to build a skilled and educated population.
Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, in his remark, lauded the motion and described it as timely, people-centered, and a step in the right direction. He emphasized that the development of the state is directly tied to the quality of education its people receive and pledged the Assembly’s commitment to ensure the government prioritizes educational welfare.
“The reintroduction of the scholarship scheme is not a favor but a responsibility. We owe it to our youths to create opportunities that empower them, and education remains the most powerful tool in that regard,” he affirmed.