Cross River Commences Scholarship Awards to 350 University Students  

Over 300 indigent students across public tertiary institutions in Nigeria will be beneficiaries of the 2023 Cross River State Tertiary Education Scholarship Award.

The Director General of the Cross River Scholarship Board, Ms. Nuela Anyin during an interview with Voice of Nigeria in Calabar, the capital of the southern Nigerian State, said that the staff resumed as early as 8 o’clock in the morning to commence the process for the award.

According to Anyin, after the Christmas and New Year holidays, which spanned more than one week, the board decided to hit the ground running to fast-track the processing of already submitted applications and distribute new forms to those interested to apply.

She said, “Before workers proceeded on the holiday, they were happy because of what the governor, Professor Ben Ayade did for the staff. The workers were paid two months’ salaries and the board also celebrated by distributing Christmas packages to the staff in the spirit of the holiday.

“We have a task because the governor has directed that we give out forms for scholarships. So the processes for the award of scholarships have started though it is only for those within the shores of Nigeria. So, everybody is back to work and the students are pouring in to collect the forms. For us, it is all work, work and more work,” Anyin stressed.

On the category of student beneficiaries, Anyin stated that the governor directed that the award of scholarships be open to indigent students from Cross River State in any field of study not restricted to science and technology, medicine or engineering.

“The governor is an open-minded person and does not love to discriminate. He is interested in assisting indigent students from Cross River State in tertiary institutions. He has the goodwill for students and not pre-empting the governor, as a board, we are hoping 350 students would be beneficiaries,” she said.

Workers resume

Meanwhile, across the state and federal establishments in Calabar, public and civil servants have resumed duties as many were observed at their desks within some of the offices visited.

In separate interviews with some of the workers, they expressed readiness to take on the challenges of the year 2023 sequel to a successful Christmas and New Year celebration.

The workers such as a Director of Administration in one of the state government establishments, Mr. Martins Egbe said “before we proceeded for the Christmas holidays, workers like us had a few challenges. But, we were delighted that our governor silently paid us all outstanding salaries in a space of three days. It was a good one and now we are all happily back to work.”

Another civil servant, Mrs. Eme Bassey stated, “I expect that God will touch the heart of those at the helms of affairs to implement our promotion and pay gratuities of those, who have retired,” while Mr. Peter Gabriel said, “I feel good and that is why you have seen me in the office because I have to resume my work because this is where I eat from. I believe God that this year will be fine and I will work hard to achieve my aims.”

Although, most of those who traveled for the festivities were yet to resume, it is the expectation of the workers that all outstanding emoluments would be defrayed.

Olusola Akintonde