Hon. Joshua Chinedu Obika’s proposal aims to boost educational access for original inhabitants and residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, Abuja
A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Capital Territory Scholarship Board, sponsored by Hon. Joshua Chinedu Obika representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency, has successfully scaled its second reading in the House of Representatives.
The legislation seeks to create a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, empowered to sue and be sued in its name. Its core mandate is to reward, promote, and encourage academic excellence; develop human resources to meet national manpower needs; and make education accessible to FCT residents.
Key provisions of the Bill are to reduce out‑of‑school children by addressing financial barriers, provide a conducive, peaceful, and friendly learning environment, offer accommodation for scholars in higher institutions, monitor and evaluate scholarship programmes, ensure that 25% reserved for original inhabitants of the FCT, 10% to each geo‑political zone, and 5% for discretionary awards by the Board.
Hon. Obika however emphasized that the Board “will reward, promote and encourage academic excellence” and “develop human resources for the nation’s manpower needs,” underscoring its importance in reducing out‑of‑school rates in the FCT.
Recalled that the bill is titled:“A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal Capital Territory Scholarship Board to Facilitate Provision of Scholarship to Pupils and Students who are Original Inhabitants and Residents of the Federal Capital Territory to Promote Sustainable Educational Development in the FCT and for Related Matters, 2025,” is set to progress to further readings before enactment.
