The outgoing administration of Governor Liyel Imoke spent about N2bn on local and international scholarship programmes for graduates from the state in the last eight years.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Offiong Offiong, who said this at a briefing in Calabar, on Monday, however, regretted that many of the beneficiaries, especially those on foreign mission, did not return to serve the state.

Offiong, who stated that 5, 362 persons benefited from the offers within the period, added that the state had engaged the few that returned in its employ.

Offiong said, “We have invested heavily on manpower development through scholarships (local and overseas) which has increased the number of skill personnel in the state. So far, over N2bn have been paid out and the substantial number of the beneficiaries are overseas studying in the areas of sciences and humanities.

“The impact of this is to bridge the gap in the area of skilled manpower, which was lacking in the past. However, in the process, we had a challenge in the bond signed by some of these beneficiaries before they went abroad. Many of them failed to return after their programmes. Those that came back, especially those with knowledge of ICT are being engaged.”

The commissioner also said the establishment of Institute of Technology and Management at Ugep in Yakurr Local Government Area, would provide middle manpower to service the economy of the state in engineering, technology and business management.

He said, “The state has reached out to the management of the Institute of Highbury College, Portsmouth, UnitedKingdom with the objective of producing industry/market ready graduates and where at least 95 per cent of its products are employed or engaged immediately after graduation.”

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