By Ike Uchechukwu

CALABAR—No fewer than 1,000 students of the Northern senatorial district of Cross River State will benefit from Governor Ben Ayade’s scholarship scheme.

Governor Ben Ayade

Ayade made the pledge at the just concluded grand reception organised in his honour by the people of Northern senatorial district at the Ogoja township stadium.

He said: “The award will help in taking away the burden from parents who struggle to pay school fees for their wards even when such parents lack the capacity to pay the fees.

“The scholarship scheme covers 1,000 indigent students from secondary to tertiary inatitutions. Their fees will be fully paid and this will ensure that many people from the Northern senatorial district are really empowered through education.

“The scheme will also help to discourage young people from withdrawing from school. Education is the bedrock to the development of any society and as such needs not to be toyed with,” he said.

The governor directed the leaders and stakeholders from the senatorial  district to immediately compile the list of the students and bring same to his office.