A staggering 1,975 students have applied for just 500 bursary awards initiated by Senator Jarigbe Agom, showing a massive demand for educational support in Cross River North.
The N100,000 bursaries, meant for students under 30 years of age studying outside the state, were opened for online applications through a dedicated portal.
Although the portal was scheduled to remain open for 24 hours, it reached an overwhelming response within just 16 hours.
The scheme targets undergraduates from the five local government areas in the Cross River Northern senatorial district: Ogoja, Yala, Obanliku, Bekwarra, and Obudu.
In a statement, the bursary award committee emphasized that the application process is transparent and apolitical.
“This system is blind to affiliations, knows no political party, is unbiased and wants to support education in Cross River North, regardless of leaning,” the managers noted.
Observers have hailed the initiative as timely, especially amid growing complaints about the high cost of education.
