The Gombe State Government has approved N665 million for the payment of the 2025 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) fees for 23,873 students across the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that the State Commissioner for Education, Aishatu Maigari, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Government House in Gombe, after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting presided over by Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
Maigari said the council approved a memo presented by the Ministry of Education to cover the examination fees of eligible students.
According to her, the beneficiaries emerged from a mock examination conducted for 26,857 candidates, out of which 23,873 students — representing 88 per cent — scored 50 per cent and above, thereby qualifying for government-sponsored examination support.
“A breakdown of the beneficiaries shows that 21,909 students will sit for WAEC, 1,431 for NABTEB, while 297 candidates will be presented for NBAIS.
“The list also includes 183 non-indigene students on exchange programmes in the state and 53 students living with special needs, and this reflects the inclusive nature of Governor Inuwa Yahaya,” she said.
The commissioner explained that the payment would be jointly funded by the state government and the 11 local government councils, with a 60–40 cost-sharing ratio, respectively.
She added that the intervention aligns with Governor Yahaya’s deliberate strategy to eliminate financial barriers to education, improve academic performance and position Gombe State as a leading centre of learning in the North-East.
