Umo Eno Promises ₦200,000 Annual Bursary for Akwa Ibom Students, ₦250,000 for Law, Medicine and Engineering.

Umo Eno Promises ₦200,000 Annual Bursary for Akwa Ibom Students, ₦250,000 for Law, Medicine and Engineering.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has promised to increase the annual bursary for indigenes studying in public tertiary institutions from ₦50,000 to ₦200,000 if re elected for a second term in the February 2027 governorship election.

The governor also announced a proposed higher bursary of ₦250,000 for students studying Medicine, Law and Engineering, outlining the planned increases as part of his administration’s commitment to education and youth development.

According to a report by Channels Television published on Thursday, October 29, 2026, Eno made the announcement during a fireside chat on the second day of the Ibom Ignite 2026 Conference at Ibom Hall in Uyo on Wednesday.

The proposed increase would take effect if Eno wins the 2027 governorship election and is sworn in for a second term. The announcement therefore represents a campaign linked commitment rather than an immediate change to the existing bursary arrangement.

Bursary Increase Aims to Ease Students’ Financial Burden

Eno said the proposed increase was intended to help students manage the financial demands associated with higher education, including tuition and other academic expenses.

The plan would represent a fourfold increase in the general annual bursary, from ₦50,000 to ₦200,000. Students studying Medicine, Law and Engineering would receive ₦250,000 annually under the proposal.

The announcement follows an earlier increase approved by the governor in July 2026, when the state government raised the bursary from ₦20,000 to ₦50,000 per eligible beneficiary.

At the time, the government also approved ₦1.3 billion for bursary payments to eligible students and ₦1.968 billion to cover examination fees for pupils and students in public basic and secondary schools.

These measures form part of the administration’s broader educational support initiatives under its ARISE development agenda.

Education Support and Youth Development

During his appearance at the Ibom Ignite conference, Eno reiterated his administration’s commitment to sustaining free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary school levels.

He also highlighted youth focused initiatives, including programmes at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre and the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre, which are designed to strengthen vocational skills, leadership and entrepreneurship.

The governor’s proposed bursary increase adds to the range of interventions his administration has presented as efforts to improve educational access and support young people across Akwa Ibom State.

However, the proposed ₦200,000 and ₦250,000 payments remain conditional on his re election and the commencement of a second term. Further details on implementation, eligibility requirements and funding arrangements for the proposed amounts would be important for students and their families.

What Akwa Ibom Students Should Know

Under the proposal announced by the governor, eligible indigenes studying in public tertiary institutions would receive an annual bursary of ₦200,000, while those studying Medicine, Law and Engineering would receive ₦250,000.

Students should continue to monitor official state government announcements for confirmation of the policy, its implementation timeline and any revised application procedures.

The state’s bursary programme is intended to provide financial assistance to Akwa Ibom indigenes attending government-owned tertiary institutions. Information about existing eligibility requirements and application procedures is available through the official Akwa Ibom State Bursary Portal.

As the 2027 governorship election approaches, the proposal is likely to remain part of the discussion surrounding education funding, student welfare and the role of state governments.