Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has approved the payment of over ₦1.96 billion in examination fees for basic and secondary school students across the state, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to free and compulsory education under the ARISE Agenda.
The approval, contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umana, is aimed at easing the financial burden on parents and ensuring that no student is denied the opportunity to sit for examinations due to lack of funds.
According to the statement, ₦1.368 billion of the approved amount will be used to cover the cost of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and related expenses, including National Identification Number (NIN) registration, biometric capture, science practicals, continuous assessment, monitoring, and examination administration.
The governor also approved ₦50 million for the payment of National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examination fees.
In addition, ₦550 million has been earmarked for the conduct of key state examinations, including the Common Entrance Examination, Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Senior Secondary II Promotion Examination, as well as entrance examinations into Senior Science Colleges and Government Model Girls’ Secondary School.
Governor Eno has directed the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies to ensure the immediate implementation of the approval to enable eligible students benefit without delay.
The intervention is expected to benefit thousands of students across Akwa Ibom State and comes in addition to the ₦1.3 billion already committed by the state government to the 2025/2026 students’ bursary scheme.
The latest approval underscores the administration’s continued investment in education, with a focus on promoting human capital development and expanding access to quality education for every child in Akwa Ibom State.