By Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The Akwa Ibom State Government has approved N1.368 billion to pay the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees and related expenses for students across the state, as part of Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to removing financial barriers in education.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Ekaette Okon Joseph, said the administration has invested significantly in education through various programmes aimed at improving access and supporting young people.
She stated that the latest approvals for examination fees, bursaries and youth support programmes demonstrate the government’s determination to ensure that financial challenges do not prevent students from achieving their educational goals.
According to her, the total approval of N1.968 billion covers N1.368 billion for WASSCE and related examination expenses, N50 million for National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examinations, and N550 million for Common Entrance Examination, Basic Education Certificate Examination, promotion examinations and entrance examinations into specialised schools.
She explained that when combined with the N1.3 billion already committed to the 2025/2026 bursary scheme, the administration has invested more than N3.2 billion in direct educational support within a single policy cycle.
She added that, alongside over N2 billion paid as special allowances to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, the state government has committed more than N5 billion towards education and youth development.
“For many families, examination registration has become the final obstacle between a child and graduation. By taking responsibility for these costs, the Akwa Ibom State Government is removing one of the biggest financial barriers facing thousands of households,” she said.
The intervention, she noted, aligns with Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to free and compulsory education, ensuring that every child has equal opportunity to pursue academic excellence.
Beyond examination support, the state government has continued to provide bursaries to students in tertiary institutions to enable them to remain in school despite rising educational expenses.
A student of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Ukamfon Edem, commended the governor for the initiative, saying the support would assist him in purchasing textbooks and other academic materials.
Similarly, Grace Ekan, a student of the University of Uyo, praised the programme, noting that many students from poor backgrounds and orphaned families would benefit from the gesture.
“For him to remember the poor and students, God will bless him,” she said.
The governor’s youth development strategy also extends to the NYSC programme, where the state government disbursed over N2 billion in special allowances to 94,869 corps members between August 2025 and April 2026.
The figures showed that Akwa Ibom indigenes serving outside the state and in the Federal Capital Territory received over N1.3 billion, while non-indigenes serving within the state received more than N700 million.
The initiative has been described as a demonstration of inclusiveness, as the government extended the support to young graduates from across Nigeria serving in Akwa Ibom.
Ekaette Okon Joseph said the programme had helped corps members cope with transportation, accommodation, feeding and professional expenses during challenging economic times.
A corps member serving in Etinan Local Government Area, Thomas Ikena, said he plans to remain in Akwa Ibom after his service year because of the opportunities he discovered in the state.
She noted that such programmes could contribute to long-term economic growth by attracting skilled young people, encouraging investment and expanding the state’s workforce.
These interventions form part of the wider ARISE Agenda, which focuses on infrastructure development, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, enterprise development, cooperative financing and skills acquisition.
The examination fee support, therefore, represents part of a broader human capital development strategy aimed at preparing young people for future opportunities.
Analysts believe that consistent investment in education and youth empowerment will strengthen Akwa Ibom’s economic resilience by producing skilled professionals, entrepreneurs and innovators.
Governor Umo Eno’s administration maintains that while physical infrastructure remains important, the most valuable investment any government can make is the development of human capacity.
As the ARISE Agenda progresses, the education and youth support programmes may be remembered not only for the funds committed but for the thousands of young lives empowered to contribute to the future growth of Akwa Ibom State.