Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has announced a full scholarship scheme for all female indigenes of the state who scored 250 and above in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The UTME, organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is a national exam for candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions.
The announcement was made on Saturday in Maiduguri during the inauguration of the new executive members of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Maiduguri Chapter, and a scholarship initiative facilitated by Dr Habiba Babagana Zulum, the governor’s wife.
Governor Zulum said the initiative aims to promote girl-child education and encourage more female students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), as well as technical and vocational education.
“To encourage girl-child education in Borno State, I wish to announce that all female indigenes who scored 250 and above in JAMB will be fully sponsored by the Borno State Government to study STEM or technical/vocational courses,” the governor said.
He instructed the acting Chief of Staff, the State Scholarship Board, the Ministry of Education, and APWEN to identify and screen eligible beneficiaries for the scheme.
The governor also commended his wife for her dedication to supporting education and acknowledged APWEN’s efforts in promoting the engineering profession among women and girls in the state.
Delivering a lecture titled “The Role of Mentorship in Encouraging Girls to Pursue Engineering Careers in Nigeria”, Dr Zulum stressed the importance of mentorship in enhancing the personal and professional development of young girls.
She noted that women currently make up only 14 per cent of Nigeria’s STEM workforce a figure she said must improve.
“Mentorship is critical to shaping the minds and future of upcoming generations,” she said, adding that it helps build confidence, dismantle stereotypes, foster critical thinking, and create access to opportunities.
Outgoing APWEN Chairperson, Kori Shettima, expressed pride in the association’s strides in advocacy and mentorship for girls in STEM.
“I am proud of the progress we have made, the lives we have touched, and the young minds we have inspired,” she said.
Highlights of the event included the inauguration of the association’s 4th Chairperson, Engr Hajju Tijjani Gazali, and the presentation of scholarships, ₦200,000 each to six high-performing pupils from Wulari Primary School, and ₦300,000 each to six top science students from Federal Government Girls College, Monguno.
