Date: 2017-02-22

On Wednesday, students of Kwara state origin congregated in their scores from various tertiary institutions (universities, polytechnics and colleges of education) in the country to stage a peaceful protest over the failure of the state government to pay their bursary awards since 2015.

The protesting students carried placards that read: "governor Ahmed pay us our entitlements", "students of Kwara origin are suffering", "we did not vote for sufferings", "please pay us our bursary", among others.

However, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Media and Communications, Dr. Muideen Akorede said that the state government is committed to paying the bursaries and scholarship awards.

According to the governor, "In the 2017 budget proposal, which is currently before the State House of Assembly, the sum of N500m is earmarked for bursaries, while N450m is allocated for scholarship awards.

"Despite the current financial situation, the government is focused on payment of salaries, pensions and infrastructure." The expedition of the students started from the state police command, down to the state security service, and finally ended at the government house, Ilorin.

Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the leader of the protest, Mr. Sola Kamardeen criticised the lackluster attitude of the state government towards the growth and development of education in the state.

He said, "it is disheartening that, since July 2015 the state government cannot pay us despite huge federal allocations that had been coming to Kwara.

"We have written series of letters to the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed on the need to pay the bursary being owed us but to no avail".

He added that, apart from this, "we had met with the speaker of the house of assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, without any positive response and this had led us to stage a peaceful protest on the issue".