By Kelvin Ololo
Students across the Cross River South Senatorial District are set to receive major financial relief following the launch of the 2026 edition of Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong’s Education Support Initiative (ESI), a ₦100 million intervention designed to ease the cost of tertiary education.
Under the program, 1,000 qualified students are believed to benefit from ₦100,000 each, offering timely support to undergraduates and postgraduate students facing rising tuition fees, accommodation costs and other academic expenses.
According to the announcement signed by Charles Ekanem on behalf of the Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong Constituency Office, The initiative is open to indigenous and resident students of Cross River South studying in federal and state universities, colleges of education, colleges of health technology and schools of nursing.
For many students, the intervention represents a critical boost at a time when economic pressures continue to threaten access to higher education. The ESI targets students already enrolled in recognized tertiary institutions, with the aim of helping them remain in school and focus on their studies.
Application for the fourth edition of the program opened on January 12, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. and closes on January 21, 2026, at 11:00 p.m. Applicants are required to apply through the official ESI portal, where eligibility and application guidelines are clearly outlined.
To ensure fairness and accountability, the constituency office stated that admission letters and certificates of origin submitted by applicants will be verified before beneficiaries are selected.
Now in its fourth year, the Education Support Initiative has continued to attract attention among students in the district, many of whom see it as a practical response to the challenges of funding higher education.
The program is greeted as part of Senator Ekpenyong’s broader focus on human capital development, with education identified as a key driver of long-term social and economic growth in Cross River South.