The Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly has disbursed 25,000 Ghana Cedis from its share of the Common Fund to support 48 needy but brilliant students, for the payment of their school fees.

Presenting cheques to the beneficiaries, the Municipal Chief Executive of the area, Hon. Iddrisu Mariam urged them to work very hard and excel in their respective educational institutions, adding that their services will be needed after they complete their courses to contribute their quota to the development of the municipality.

Beneficiary students received between 1,000, 500, 450 and 400 Ghana Cedis based on their level of education.

Hon Mariam noted that, though the Assembly is not making full payment of their fees, however the Assembly's financial support will go a long way to reduce their burden.

She said it was the responsibility of the government under President Nana Addo to ensure that underprivileged students were assisted to further their education.

The Sagnarigu MCE therefore urged the beneficiary students to take advantage of the offer and study hard, and come back to serve the district after completing their studies.

Hon Mariam again urged beneficiaries to educate their parents and other citizens to pay their property rates promptly to the Assembly in order to enhance the accumulation of resources to secure financial support for the needy but brilliant students in the municipality.

The Sagnarigu MCE said the Ghana Beyond Aid aspiration by the Nana Addo led government will become achievable when "we begin to rely on our own resources".

She explained that, as part of the criteria to access the student financial support, applicants whose parents do not pay property rates are disqualified.

"When you go back home, please encourage our people, not necessarily your direct parents. Let them know the reason and the need to pay their property rates to the Assembly. They shouldn't even wait for us to call on them, they can come to the Assembly. This is the only way we can make Ghana Beyond Aid. If we rely on our own resources then we can begin to develop our roads, our school infrastructure, clinics and then the support for needy but brilliant students" she said.

The Chairman of Students Financial Support Selection Committee Hon Peter Tisakiya Zongbil hinted that, there has been an improvement this year, stating that, the applications received last year were lower as compared to this year's. “We received 42 applications last year and 87 for this year”.

He however explained that, applicants were not selected automatically but rather selection was built on some criteria.

The Chairman of Students Financial Support Selection Committee who is also the Assemblyman of the Kanvili Electoral Area elaborated that, the support system is meant for only students who reside in the Municipality, “applicants attending public schools and also some other criteria are taken into consideration when selecting qualified applicants”. He added

Hon Peter disclosed that out of the 87 applications received this year, 48 applicants were qualified to benefit from the support system.

The Kanvili Electoral Area Assemblyman advised the beneficiary students to conduct themselves well in school and be ambassadors of the support system to the outside world.

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Firdaus Abubakari, a student of UDS Tamale Campus thanked the Assembly for the financial support, adding that, the Assembly's support is very timely.