Over N542 million has been authorized by Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo to cover the cost of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination as well as other internal examination costs for students enrolled in public schools throughout the state.
Wemi Jones, the Commissioner for Education, said this at a press conference in Lokoja on Tuesday.
According to Jones, the money would pay for UTME, the Basic Education Certificate Examination, and the 2025 Basic Six and Common Entrance Examination registration fees.
“A total of N145,476,984 has been allocated for 25,100 pupils for Basic Six and CCE; N215,220,000 for 30,500 students under BECE; and N181,719,800 for 18,734 students’ UTME/JAMB fees, amounting to N542,416,784,” Jones stated.
The initiative is in line with the law that former Governor Yahaya Bello signed, which requires free examination registration fees for students in public primary and secondary schools.
“Governor Ododo, building on the foundation laid by his predecessor, remains committed to consolidating achievements in the education sector,” he continued.
Jones disclosed that more than N661.3 million had also been made available by the state government to cover the 2024–2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) costs for SS3 pupils enrolled in public schools.
He claims that the state has allocated more than N1.2 billion to pay for internal and external exams in the 2024–2025 school year.
“School enrollment rates have increased dramatically as a result of this strategy. He said that the 2024 payment of exam fees resulted in an 18% rise in student enrollment.”
According to Jones, the gesture improved pupils’ performance on national exams while also lowering the number of out-of-school youngsters, which has been a significant problem in the education sector.
The commissioner praised Ododo for putting quality education first in order to lower the state’s rates of poverty and illiteracy.
He warned that the government would take strong action against any principal discovered undermining the program or trying to take advantage of pupils, and he urged principals and school heads to work with the ministry to guarantee a seamless registration process.