Our Reporter
In a significant step towards addressing the needs of students across the State, the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) and the Lagos State Scholarship Board have flagged -off a strategic collaboration aimed at optimizing resources, minimising waste, and improving the welfare of students in the State.
At the flag-off ceremony which took place recently at the LSSB Headquarters, Agege Road, Iyana Ipaja, General Manager, LASRRA, Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola said that the collaboration seeks to leverage the power of data-sharing and resource pooling between the two Agencies, with the shared goal of providing targeted, effective, and equitable support for students pursuing higher education in Lagos State.
“Through this partnership, both Agencies aim to enhance the efficiency of student welfare programmes, such as bursaries and grants, while eliminating redundancies and administrative inefficiencies that can hinder progress”, Adebiyi-Abiola said.
She noted that the Agency looks forward to training the beneficiaries on how to set up their accounts via virtual meetings so that the exercise will be seamless for them. She was also quick to let them know that other government services could be accessed through the LAG-ID aside from depositing their grants or bursaries.
The LASRRA boss averred that the Agency would make sure to share vital data and streamline efforts to ensure that the students receive the support they deserve, stressing that through the collaboration, LASRRA will provide the Scholarship Board with accurate demographic data on Lagos State residents to help identify eligible students for various scholarship programmes.
Earlier, while welcoming the LASRRA team, the Acting Executive Secretary of LSSB, Mrs. Moyosore Akamo expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration, adding that it would help minimise many issues faced by the Board, such as multiple identities and the stress of the beneficiaries receiving payments.
“By working together, we can minimise waste, enhance transparency, and make sure that our students, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, are supported in their educational journey. This partnership will make it easier to identify and allocate resources effectively, ensuring that no student is left behind due to bureaucratic inefficiencies.
“The LAG-ID Card will enhance the payment of scholarships and bursaries. It is aimed at lodging payment, which is the reason we prioritize and consider automation. With the delivery of many beneficiary cards today, we are optimistic that LASRRA will not rest on its oars to achieve greatness as far as scholarship and bursaries are concerned”, she said.
Disclosing that more than 250 cards have been delivered to the Local governments and Local Council Development Areas for pick-up by the owners, Akamo asserted that the Board will provide timely updates and records to LASRRA towards ensuring that students who have been awarded scholarships are easily identifiable for other support services that the State may offer.
Present at the event were Dr. Halima Ogunbekun, HoD, Partnerships and Assessment, LSSB; Hafiz Olufowobi Remilekun, National President, National Union of Lagos State Students; Aminat Abike, South West Secretary, National Union of Lagos State Students and other student representatives of various tertiary institutions in Lagos State.
