ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Gombe State Government, in partnership with 11 Local Government Areas, has allocated N580,870,900 to cover the ordinary-level examination fees for 20,478 students across the state.
The funding will cover registration costs for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
Announcing the decision on Monday after a State Executive Council meeting, Commissioner for Education, Dr. Aishatu Maigari, confirmed that offline registration had been completed, with online registration set to commence soon.
“A total of 18,723 indigenous students have been paid for WAEC,” Maigari said.
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“Additionally, 110 exchange students from the 19 northern states, in line with Governor Muhammadu Yahaya’s tradition, have also been covered.”
She also detailed how the funds would be allocated: Exams for 58 students with special needs at the Special Education Centre have been fully covered.
Additionally, 1,368 students in technical colleges have had their NABTEB fees paid, despite the Federal Government’s reclassification of science and technical colleges as purely technical institutions.
Similarly, 219 students in Government Arabic Colleges have had their NBAIS fees settled.
“This brings the total number of beneficiaries to 20,478 candidates, amounting to N580,870,900, which will be shared between the state and local governments,” she explained.
Beyond covering exam fees, Maigari announced that the State Executive Council had approved a new sanitation roadmap for schools and healthcare facilities to enhance hygiene and environmental standards.
“A coordinating body will oversee sanitation efforts, alongside the provision of hygiene infrastructure, sustainability measures, education, enforcement, and community engagement,” she said.
She added that the initiative, which involves the Commissioners for Water, Environment & Forest Resources, Health, and Education, aims to ensure cleaner and healthier schools and healthcare facilities across Gombe State.