Francis Sardauna in Katsina
The Katsina State Scholarship Board has refunded N86 million unclaimed bursary funds to the state authorities following the introduction of improved digital verification and accountability measures by the state authorities.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr. Aminu Salisu Tsauri, disclosed this on Monday through the flag-off of bursary funds for the 2025/2026 tutorial session by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda on the state-owned Institute of Technology and Management.
He mentioned the restoration of the unclaimed funds was made potential by improved digital verification processes aimed toward making certain that public funds attain solely eligible beneficiaries.
He added that the state scholarship board had screened 14,925 new candidates for bursary funds, with disbursement anticipated earlier than the top of 2026.
He mentioned: “The Katsina State Scholarship Board has returned N86 million unclaimed funds to the state government’s coffers through improved digital verification. 14,925 new applicants have been screened for payment before the end of 2026.”
Flagging off the train, Governor Radda mentioned his administration has elevated bursary allowances by 100 per cent and commenced the disbursement of N689.79 million to 19,318 verified college students throughout 97 establishments for the 2025/2026 tutorial session.
He defined that the evaluation ends 18 years of stagnant bursary charges since 2007 and can ease the monetary burden on college students and oldsters throughout the state.
He introduced a 150 per cent enhance for Veterinary Medicine college students in 300 and 400 ranges, 200 per cent for these in 500 and 600 ranges, and N500,000 every for 56 Katsina indigenes on the Nigerian Law School, totaling N28 million.
On overseas scholarships, Radda mentioned the state is sponsoring 118 college students — 41 learning Medicine in Egypt, 10 in Ethiopia, 33 learning Artificial Intelligence and 34 Bioengineering in China — with an maintenance dedication exceeding N1.7 billion, plus tuition, lodging and medical health insurance.
He mentioned complete bursary funds and scholar awards by his administration now exceed N3.29 billion, from over N2.6 billion beforehand disbursed.
Radda additionally unveiled a brand new native scholarship scheme for 1,700 college students – 50 finest performing NECO and WAEC college students from every of the 34 LGAs – to examine Nursing, Engineering, ICT, Agriculture and Education in state-owned establishments.
He charged the Scholarship Board to maintain transparency, verification and accountability in managing public funds.
