Almost 2,000 undergraduates have applied for just 500 bursary awards launched by Senator Jarigbe Agom in Cross River North, underlining the scale of demand for educational support in the state.
The bursary, worth ₦100,000 per beneficiary, is open to students under the age of 30 who are studying outside the state. Applications, submitted through a dedicated online portal, were expected to run for 24 hours but closed after only 16 hours when the response surged past capacity. The scheme covers students from the five local government areas of the northern senatorial district: Ogoja, Yala, Obanliku, Bekwarra and Obudu.
In a statement, the bursary award committee stressed that the process was transparent and non-partisan. “This system is blind to affiliations, knows no political party, and is committed to supporting education in Cross River North regardless of leaning,” it said. The initiative has been welcomed as a relief for families struggling with rising tuition and living costs. Analysts say the overwhelming response reflects both the economic pressures on students and the limited availability of support schemes in the region.
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