The Kogi Equity Alliance (KEA) has commended Senator Sunday Karimi or what it described as an unprecedented display of transparency in the management of the 2025 Bursary Scheme, following a full verification of applicants carried out by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
According to a statement signed by Yusuf Muhammad, KEA said the initiative stands out at a time when many public programmes in Nigeria face criticism over opaque processes, inflated beneficiary lists, and political interference.
A total of 9,044 applications were submitted for the scheme across Kogi State. Senator Karimi forwarded all entries to JAMB for independent verification. The report from the examination body confirmed 4,671 genuine admissions, identified 149 applicants as not admitted**, and flagged 4,224 entries as invalid or unverifiable JAMB registration numbers.
In an official letter signed by B-Usman Funmilola F., Acting Director, Information Technology Services, JAMB confirmed that the verification exercise had been completed and the results transmitted to the Senator.
KEA noted that no National Assembly member in recent years has subjected a bursary programme to external verification on this scale, describing the step as “a significant commitment to accountability.”
Following the verification, a Technical Committee has commenced screening of the 4,671 eligible applicants, with plans to select 3,000 beneficiaries for the 2025 disbursement.
The Alliance further highlighted Senator Karimi’s directive that the bursary be equitably distributed across all 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State. KEA said this approach aims to ensure fair access irrespective of geography, ethnicity, or political affiliation.
“Senator Karimi’s management of this process has created a model that other public officials can adopt,” the group said, adding that the transparent approach positions the bursary scheme as a potential benchmark for public-sector accountability nationwide.
KEA concluded by stating that the Senator’s procedures demonstrate how public trust can be strengthened through verifiable and independently audited actions.
