By Joy Yesufu
Former Bayelsa State Governor and serving Senator, Henry Seriake Dickson, on Tuesday presented his annual educational grant to 136 Bayelsa indigenes currently enrolled at the Nigerian Law School for the 2025 academic year.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Dickson congratulated the students and urged them to approach their academic and professional pursuits with diligence, discipline, and a strong sense of responsibility.
He encouraged them to work hard, develop their capacities, and prepare themselves to contribute meaningfully to national development and service to humanity.
The grant, which Dickson said he has sustained since leaving office as governor, forms part of his continued investment in education and youth development in Bayelsa State.
During his tenure as governor, Dickson prioritised education through the establishment and expansion of key institutions, including the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa Medical University, and several colleges of education and polytechnics.
His administration also implemented free boarding education in public secondary schools, constructed teachers’ quarters, established the Ijaw National Academy and the Bayelsa Sports Academy and built 15 model schools across the state.
He further noted that over 4,000 scholarships were awarded to undergraduate and postgraduate students locally and internationally during his administration, even amid economic recession.
In addition, Dickson introduced legislative and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening the education sector.
These included the establishment of the Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF), the Tertiary Students Loan Board, the Teachers Training Board, the Education Inspectorate Agency, the Board for Science and Technical Education, and the Bayelsa Polytechnic, Aleibiri.
His administration also developed and repositioned the Niger Delta University (NDU), among other initiatives.
Since leaving office, Dickson has continued to provide annual scholarships and grants to students. He also founded Hensard University, the state’s first private university, which is currently in its third year of operation.
He described the annual Law School grant as a modest contribution to support students and ease the financial burden on their families, while also providing an opportunity to mentor and guide the beneficiaries.
