Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State, has released over N1.2 billion for payment of 2025 WAEC, Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE-JAMB) and all internal examinations’ fees for public students and pupils in the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Mr Wemi Jones, made the disclosure at a press conference on Tuesday in Lokoja.

Jones said out of the N1.2bn, 542m 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.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state government had in October 2024, released more than N661.3 million for the payment of 2024/2025 West African Examination Council fees for SSS3 students in public schools.

Jones explained that N145.4 million would cover CEE for 25,100 basic six pupils and N215.2 million for 30,500 students qualified for BECE.

He added that N181.7 million would cover UTME fees for 18,734 students, amounting to N542.4 million, in addition to N661.3 million.

Jones said that the state government had so far spent N1.2 billion on payment for both public school pupils and students’ external and internal examinations in the 2024/2025 academic session.

The commissioner emphasised that the gesture was in line with the state government’s law that provides for free examination registration fees for Kogi students in public primary and secondary schools.

He said that the law was enacted by former Gov. Yahaya Bello and expressed the commitment of Ododo-led administration to consolidate on the gains recorded by the previous administration in the education sector.

According to him, the gesture had significantly increased school enrolment rates in the state, with the 2024 payments alone increasing school enrolment by 18 per cent.

“These efforts had greatly reduced the number of out-of-school children that remained a great challenge in the education sector.

“It has also enhanced students’ performance in national examinations,” he said.

The commissioner commended Ododo for prioritising access to quality education aimed at reducing poverty and illiteracy rates in the state.

He implored the schools’ principals and other heads to cooperate with the ministry for a seamless registration exercise for the benefit of the targeted children.

He, however, warned that the government would come down heavily on any school principal who tried to shortchange the students or sabotage the process. (NAN)

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