By Ekaette Okon Joseph and Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
Education has been described as the foundation of development and good governance.
The Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Media, Ekaette Okon Joseph, made this assertion in a statement, stressing that the true measure of government commitment is reflected not only in policy declarations but also in financial decisions.
She stated that in Akwa Ibom State, Governor Umo Eno has increasingly demonstrated that investment in education and young people is a long-term economic strategy rather than merely a social obligation.
According to her, recent approvals for examination fees, bursaries, and sustained youth support programmes show the administration’s commitment to removing financial barriers that have historically prevented thousands of young people from achieving their full potential.
She said the latest approval of N1.968 billion to pay examination fees for pupils and students at the basic and secondary education levels represents one of the most significant educational interventions by any subnational government in Nigeria this year.
The approval covers N1.368 billion for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and related expenses, N50 million for the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examinations, and N550 million for the Common Entrance Examination, Basic Education Certificate Examination, promotion examinations, and entrance examinations into specialised schools.
When combined with the N1.3 billion already committed to the 2025/2026 bursary scheme, the administration has invested over N3.2 billion in direct educational support within a single policy cycle.
Added to the more than N2 billion already paid as special allowances to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, the state has committed over N5 billion to education and youth development.
She noted that across Nigeria, examination fees remain one of the major reasons many students either postpone or abandon their education.
Families already burdened by inflation, rising food prices, and transportation costs often struggle to pay for external examinations despite years of investment in their children’s schooling.
According to her, for many households, examination registration has become the final obstacle between a child and graduation.
By assuming these costs, the Akwa Ibom State Government is removing one of the major financial barriers confronting thousands of families.
The intervention ensures that students who have completed their academic preparations are not denied the opportunity to sit for qualifying examinations simply because their parents cannot afford the fees.
The Special Assistant further said the policy aligns with Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to free and compulsory education, ensuring that every child has an equal opportunity to pursue academic excellence.
She praised the state government, saying its commitment does not end with examination support.
Through the bursary programme, thousands of students in tertiary institutions continue to receive financial assistance that enables them to remain in school despite increasing educational costs.
She explained that for many undergraduates, bursaries determine whether they complete their education on schedule or suspend their studies due to financial difficulties.
Tuition fees, accommodation, transportation, textbooks, and research expenses have continued to rise across Nigeria, making government support increasingly important for students from low- and middle-income families.
Ukamfon Edem, a student of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, commended the governor for the initiative, saying the funds would assist him in purchasing textbooks and other academic materials.
Grace Ekan, a student of the University of Uyo, said many students in the state are orphans and praised the governor for extending support to the underprivileged.
“For him to remember the poor and students, God will bless him,” she said.
Governor Umo Eno’s youth development strategy becomes even more significant when viewed alongside the state’s unprecedented support for National Youth Service Corps members.
Between August 2025 and April 2026, the Akwa Ibom State Government disbursed over N2 billion in special allowances to 94,869 corps members.
Figures from the state government show that indigenes serving outside Akwa Ibom and in the Federal Capital Territory received more than N1.3 billion, while non-indigenes serving within the state received over N700 million.
The initiative is remarkable not only because of its financial scale but also because of its inclusive nature.
Rather than limiting the benefits to indigenes alone, the administration extended equal support to young graduates posted to Akwa Ibom from different parts of Nigeria, reflecting a governance philosophy rooted in inclusion and national unity.
For thousands of corps members, the allowance has helped cover transportation, accommodation, feeding, and professional expenses during a period of economic uncertainty for young graduates. More importantly, the programme has become an investment in talent attraction.
Thomas Ikena, a corps member serving in Etinan Local Government Area, said he intends to remain in Akwa Ibom after completing his national service because of the opportunities he discovered during his service year.
Such decisions carry long-term implications for economic growth.
Every graduate who establishes a business, secures employment, or invests in the state contributes to expanding the tax base, strengthening local industries, and promoting innovation.
This broader ecosystem is gradually taking shape through the ARISE Agenda.
Investments in road infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, aviation, enterprise development, cooperative financing, and skills acquisition are creating conditions that make education more meaningful.
A graduate is more likely to remain in a state where infrastructure supports entrepreneurship and public institutions function effectively.
Data from the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education shows sustained investment in basic education infrastructure, counterpart funding for education programmes, and teacher support, all of which strengthen learning outcomes across the state.
The examination fee intervention therefore fits into a wider framework of human capital development rather than standing as an isolated policy announcement.
When a government consistently pays examination fees, awards bursaries, supports corps members, and expands economic opportunities, it sends a message that the aspirations of young people matter.
Students become more motivated when they believe society is investing in their future, while employers benefit from a larger pool of educated and skilled workers.
In the increasingly competitive race for investment and talent among Nigerian states, education has become one of the strongest indicators of future economic resilience.
Governor Umo Eno’s approach suggests an understanding that roads, bridges, and public buildings remain important, but the most enduring infrastructure any government can construct is the human mind.
The students writing examinations today will become tomorrow’s doctors, engineers, journalists, teachers, entrepreneurs, and public servants.
The corps members receiving support today may become future investors and employers who contribute to Akwa Ibom’s economic transformation.
History has consistently shown that societies prosper when governments invest deliberately in education and young people. Such investments may not always produce immediate political rewards, but they generate lasting benefits through increased productivity, innovation, and inclusive growth.
As the ARISE Agenda continues to unfold, these interventions may ultimately be remembered not only for the billions of naira committed but also for the thousands of dreams preserved and the generation of young Akwa Ibom people empowered to shape the state’s future.
