River State Governor, Nyesom Wike said his administration has spent N1.4bn to offset scholarships fees for its students studying abroad.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, made the disclosure on Sunday at an Inter-denominational Church Service, which took place at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Diobu, Port Harcourt, to commemorate the 55th National Day Anniversary.
He said: “We thank the CAN president for expressing his concern about our students and want to assure you that His Excellency has so far spent N1.4bn on overseas scholarships.
“Just last Thursday, he released N491m to make sure that every child of Rivers State schooling abroad must receive money. We would continue to help the children irrespective of how they got there.”
The governor was thankful to God for keeping the unity of Nigeria intact, and was optimistic that the country will overcome its present economic downturn.
He also believed that the country will surmount its challenges of underdevelopment, insecurity and poverty because Nigeria is a blessed nation that must rid itself of bitterness and unforgiveness.
Earlier, Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North, Most Rev. (Dr.) Ignatius Kattey, whose sermon was themed: “Fear God”, remarked that “human beings fear what they should not fear and fear not what they should fear.”
He noted that no new state had been created since 1999 and observed that corruption was still rampant.
He said the security situation had not improved, stressing that the army and police cannot handle it alone.
He called on all citizens to rise up to assist the government achieve in the area of security while urging the government to make democracy strive in Nigeria.
