By Edwin Philip
Following the lunch of the Benue State scholarship website, where students can apply for the State bursary, they can now get paid directly to their account without necessarily traveling to Makurdi the State capital.
This was revealed by Hon. Nevkaa Jacob Ternege, Principal Special Assistant to the Governor of Benue State on Students and Youth Affairs, shortly after receiving a certificate of commendation in recognition of his leadership qualities in driving youth and students empowerment and advocating for peace in Benue State from the Middle Belt Media Practitioner Organization in Nigeria in conjunction with the coalition of civil society organisation.
He said about twenty three thousand students have already been successful registered and screened on the portal.
” Within the shortest period that I came I discovered the risk involved in traveling, I singlehandedly designed and launched the Scholarship website, the students can apply for the Benue Bursary without necessarily traveling to the State in this era of insecurity on our roads’ he said”.
He however, regretted that the 2024 Benue State budget was already presented before the House of Assembly before he was made the Principal Special Assistance to the Governor of youth and students affairs, but that he has presented the registration and analysis of students that have registered on the portal which they are about twenty three thousand screened to the governor and will captured by the appropriation bill went approved by the Benue State House of Assembly.
the Students Bursary will be disbursed and all of them will benefit from it.
” Because I feel It is important, no matter how much it is they should benefit aware of the sufferings that we are having today.”
Reacting to the question raised on the workshop he organised for Deans of Student affairs and student leaders across the State, he said it was a dream in his having understood the pains, the troubles and worriesr, that they are a lot of Deans of Student affairs in the tertiary institutions that do not know e what happens within the confine of the schools let alone talk about outside the environment where the community host the students., it was on this note that he decided to have some interaction with them to give them tips on how they can ecoordinate.students.
“If you look at the troubles in the world today 75 % of unrest we have in nation today is within the ages of the youth bracket and most people from the ages of 45 and below you equally find them in schools, so if you can give them sound moral values for them to take decision that can benefit the society.
“I want to assure that we will not only have a better future but a better present than we have now because we will be able to project what will happen in the next 100 years it was on that note, for you to have taken your time monitoring my social page monitoring my activities for a job that you have not been employed a Job that you have not been given even a stipend and then to come out with your analysis, I want to sincerely appreciate you he added.”
He expressed shock for been recognized for doing his job, said the certificate of commendation is not just about him but to the entire Benue Students, Benue youths, and dedicating this award to his principal Rev Fr. Hycent Alia, the Governor of Benue State , for whom he just an extension of his office, having learned from him and promised to do more to put smiles on the faces of Benue Students and Youths and also ensure that the People’s mandate that is given to Governor Alia is beneficial to all and sundry in Benue State.
Speaking earlier, the representative of Middle Belt Media Practitioner Organization in Nigeria in conjunction with the coalition of civil society organisation, Dr. Joy Andy, said the governor’s aid has distinguish himself among all the Governor Alia’s aids by always thinking outside the box to ensure that the people of Benue State enjoy the benefits of good governance, especially as regards the youths and students and other vulnerable groups in the State.