The Borno State Government has released ₦1,649,048,000 to settle outstanding scholarship obligations for students across Nigerian tertiary institutions, covering tuition and accommodation fees, welfare packages and international educational commitments.

Executive Secretary of the State Scholarships Board, Dr Bala Isa, announced the release at a news conference on Tuesday in Maiduguri, describing it as a reflection of Governor Babagana Zulum's commitment to education as a tool for rebuilding the state and empowering its youths.

Isa said the funds would cover outstanding 2024/2025 scholarship awards for students in universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

"The package includes tuition and accommodation fees for 272 medical students in Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, and tuition payments for 34 MBBS students at Al Ansar University, Maiduguri.

"Part of the package is also fees for 60 students studying at the Nigerian Institute of Leather Science and Technology, Zaria.

"Additional allocations will provide six months' allowances for nursing students under the state scholarship programme and educational support for 300 orphans of counter insurgency volunteers.

"These also include return airfare for postgraduate and undergraduate scholars studying in India, Malaysia, and China," he said.

Isa described the beneficiaries as future doctors, engineers, scientists, and professionals whose expertise would contribute to the long term development of the state.

He noted that the scholarships board had commenced administrative processes to ensure prompt disbursement of funds to both institutions and individual beneficiaries.

The executive secretary commended Zulum for sustaining investment in education despite prevailing challenges, stressing that scholarships and skills development remained central to the administration's vision of building a prosperous, peaceful and educated Borno State.