Daniel Otera
A staggering 10,465 students from Kogi State’s three senatorial districts have applied for the 2025 bursary award, a scholarship initiative spearheaded by the Senator Sunday Steve Karimi Education Foundation in collaboration with the Tinubu Support Group.
The bursary scheme, designed to ease the financial burden on Kogi State students, opened its application portal on 1 August 2025 and closed at midnight on 31 August 2025. The Central Committee overseeing the programme announced that the next phase involves a meticulous sorting and screening process to select the 3,000 successful applicants.
“After this stage, the names of the successful applicants would be published in due course,” the committee stated, emphasising a commitment to transparency and fairness.
The initiative targets students of Kogi origin studying in public tertiary institutions nationwide. Of the 3,000 available slots, 1,390 are allocated to students from Kogi West Senatorial District, 1,000 to Kogi East, and 610 to Kogi Central. This distribution reflects an equitable spread across the state’s three senatorial zones, ensuring broad access to the N300 million fund, fully financed by Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, who represents Kogi West in the National Assembly.
The high number of applications 10,465 in just one month reveals the scale of financial challenges faced by students in Kogi State. With only 3,000 slots available, the competition is fierce, as over 7,000 applicants will miss out.
The programme’s Central Committee, led by Secretary Tosin Busuyi, has assured applicants of a transparent selection process.
“Senator Sunday Steve Karimi is fully committed to ensuring that all applicants are given equal opportunity throughout the process of ensuring transparency, accountability, and equity to all applicants,” Busuyi said in a statement issued on Saturday in Lokoja.
The bursary scheme is not a new endeavour for Senator Karimi. In 2024, his foundation disbursed N100 million to 1,000 students from Kogi West, a gesture that earned widespread praise. This year’s programme, launched in July 2025, expands its reach to cover all three senatorial districts, a move described as unprecedented by the Yagba Action Group (YAG), a Kogi-based coalition of professionals.
“The initiative of the Sunday Karimi Education Foundation and Tinubu Support Group to extend educational support beyond Kogi West to the two other senatorial districts of East and Central is the first of its kind by a sitting senator,” YAG Vice Chairman Dickson Adeyanju noted in a statement on 23 August 2025.
The programme’s impact goes beyond financial aid. Each beneficiary receives N100,000 to cover tuition and other academic expenses, a significant relief for students from low-income backgrounds. The YAG highlighted that the high volume of applications signals the immense financial burdens students face, noting that such bursaries are critical for ensuring access to higher education. “This will bridge the socioeconomic disparities in higher education, where students from low-income backgrounds are often underrepresented,” Adeyanju added.
The bursary initiative aligns with Senator Karimi’s broader commitment to education and community development. In addition to the scholarship, he has supported projects like a 300-capacity Computer-Based Test Centre at Titcombe College, Egbe, set to be completed by August 2025, to reduce the need for students in Kogi West to travel long distances for Joint Admissions Board exams. His efforts also include water supply projects, health outreaches, and rural electrification across Kogi West, earning him commendations from community leaders and groups like the National APC Youth Coalition.
Applicants have been advised to follow the DSSK Media Team for updates on the selection process. The committee has reiterated its commitment to a merit-based process, with successful candidates expected to be announced soon after the screening phase. The programme’s focus on transparency has been a key point of emphasis, with the committee urging patience as it works to ensure fairness.
This bursary scheme, now in its second year, has grown in scope and ambition, reflecting Senator Karimi’s dedication to empowering Kogi’s youth. The partnership with the Tinubu Support Group also underscores his alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises education and human capital development. As the screening process continues, the anticipation among the 10,465 applicants is palpable, with many hoping to secure a slot in this life-changing opportunity.
For students seeking further details, the Senator Sunday Steve Karimi Education Foundation has directed them to visit www.sundaykarimi.org.