Tunde Bakare
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, has approved over N542 million for payment of 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE-JAMB) and all internal examinations’ fees for public school students and pupils in the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, made the disclosure at a press conference on Tuesday in Lokoja.
Jones said the fund would cover registration fees for 2025 Basic Six and Common Entrance Examination (CCE), Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and UMTE/JAMB of students in public schools.
According to him, N145,476,984 would cover 25,100 pupils for basic six and CCE; N215,220,000 for 30,500 students under BECE; and N181,719,800 for 18,734 students under the UMTE/JAMB fees, totaling N542,416,784.
Jones said that the gesture was in line with the law for free examination registration fees for Kogi State students in public primary and secondary schools signed by former Governor Yahaya Bello.
He added that Ododo being an offshoot of the immediate past administration has continued to consolidate on the foundation already laid in the education sector.
He noted the government had recently released over N661.3 million for the payment of 2024/2025 WAEC fees for SSS3 students in the state public schools across the State.
He stressed that the state government had committed a total sum of over N1.2 billion for payment for both external and internal examinations for 2024/2025 academic session for students in public schools across the state.
Jones emphasised that the gesture from the Governor had significantly increased school enrolment rates, saying the fees payment for 2024 led to an increase of 18 per cent in students enrollment.
He added that effort has greatly reduced the number of out of school children that had been a great challenge in the education sector, and enhanced students performance in national examinations.
The Commissioner commended the governor for his commitment to giving top priority to quality education aimed at reducing poverty and illiteracy level in the state.
Jones implored principals and school heads to cooperate with the ministry to have seamless registration for the benefit of the targeted children and the growth of the state.
He, however, warned that the government would come down heavily on any school principal who tried to shortchange the students or sabotage the process.