Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has approved scholarships for more than 760 beneficiaries under the state’s 2025/2026 Local Scholarship Scheme, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality education and investing in human capital development.
The approval is expected to benefit students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate studies, as well as public sector teachers seeking further education, in what the state government described as another major investment in the future of Enugu.
The Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Scholarship and Education Loans Board, Chukwuemeka Mbah, disclosed the development in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Enugu.
According to him, the beneficiaries were selected from across the 17 local government areas of the state after a transparent screening process that included a Computer-Based Test (CBT).
He explained that the scholarship awards were spread across different categories to ensure equitable access to educational opportunities for qualified applicants from all parts of the state.
Providing a breakdown of the beneficiaries, Chukwuemeka Mbah said the scheme covers more than 500 undergraduate students, 100 postgraduate students, and 160 public sector teachers, all of whom met the eligibility requirements and successfully passed the assessment stage.
He noted that the successful applicants represent a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, reflecting the state’s determination to support students and professionals in diverse fields that are critical to economic growth and development.
According to the Executive Secretary, the board has already commenced the next phase of the exercise by notifying successful candidates through text messages and emails.
He said those who qualified are being invited for verification and documentation, which will be conducted on a local government-by-local government basis to ensure an orderly and seamless process.
“The successful applicants who passed the Computer-Based Test have begun receiving text messages and emails inviting them for verification and documentation on a local government-by-local government basis,” he said.
The verification exercise, he explained, is designed to confirm the identities and credentials of beneficiaries before the scholarships are formally awarded.
He urged all successful applicants to promptly respond to the invitations and appear for verification with the required documents to avoid delays in processing their awards.
The scholarship programme forms part of the Enugu State Government’s broader agenda to improve educational outcomes, build a highly skilled workforce and create opportunities for residents to acquire knowledge and competencies that will contribute to the state’s development.
Governor Peter Mbah has consistently identified education as one of the key pillars of his administration, alongside healthcare, infrastructure, technology, agriculture and economic transformation.
Since assuming office, the governor has unveiled several reforms aimed at repositioning the education sector, including investments in smart schools, digital learning infrastructure, teacher development and improved access to quality education across urban and rural communities.
The inclusion of public sector teachers among the scholarship beneficiaries underscores the administration’s recognition of the critical role educators play in improving learning outcomes.
By supporting teachers to pursue further studies and enhance their professional qualifications, the government hopes to strengthen classroom instruction and improve the overall quality of education in public schools across the state.
Education stakeholders have often stressed that continuous professional development for teachers is essential to equipping them with modern teaching methods and the skills required to meet the demands of a rapidly changing educational environment.
The scholarship scheme is also expected to ease the financial burden on students and their families, particularly at a time when many households are grappling with rising living costs and increasing educational expenses.
For postgraduate students, the awards provide an opportunity to pursue advanced academic and professional training that can contribute to research, innovation and public service.
The state government reiterated that the selection process was merit-based and transparent, ensuring that only qualified candidates who successfully completed the Computer-Based Test were chosen for the awards.
Officials said the phased verification exercise across the 17 local government areas would enable the Scholarship and Education Loans Board to efficiently process beneficiaries while maintaining fairness and accountability.
The government also encouraged applicants who were not successful in the current exercise to continue preparing for future opportunities, assuring residents that it remains committed to expanding educational support programmes in line with its vision of building a knowledge-driven economy.
With more than 760 students and teachers set to benefit from the 2025/2026 Local Scholarship Scheme, the initiative represents another significant step in Enugu State’s efforts to promote educational excellence, empower its citizens and develop the human capital needed to drive sustainable growth and prosperity.
