On Saturday, about 1600 students from Ogun West Senatorial District in higher institutions across the country were awarded a scholarship and bursary by Senator Solomon Adeola to boost their educational programmes.
Adeola, representing Ogun West in the National Assembly, said the gesture was borne out of his desire and electoral promises to assist indigent brilliant students of the Senatorial District in achieving their various ambitions.
The beneficiaries were carefully selected by a board led by Professor Tope Popoola from the five local government areas of Ogun West.
The event, which was tagged “1st Yayi Scholarship/Bursary Award Programme,” was held in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of the State.
The lawmaker, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, said he is determined and resolute to increase the number of beneficiaries annually, which would last his tenure as a Senator representing the district.
He promised to give the people of the senatorial district the best representation ever.
Adeola said, “We will give you the best ever representation in the history of the Senatorial District.
“I never had an opportunity like this during my schooling years, and this is one of the factors that necessitated this programme.
” This bursary award will run for the next four years. It is not a one-off thing. If, by chance, you missed the first batch, please do not hesitate to try again. The number of beneficiaries will increase on a yearly basis.”
He further explained that the programme, which was basically a form of assistance to brilliant students facing some financial challenges in the course of their studies, was facilitated in conjunction with the Teacher’s Registration Council of Nigeria and the Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria.
The senator added that the scheme was equally in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the state mantra of ‘Building Our Future Together” of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
“Today, a total of 532 students spread across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in different parts of the nation are to be awarded scholarships to the tune of N200,000 for university scholars, N175,000 for polytechnics, and N150,000 for colleges of education upon successful verification of their academic records in line with the set-out criteria and guidelines.
” I have also included a bursary award of N100,000 for 1,000 students of the senatorial district, distributed to all five local governments at 200 per local government,” Senator Adeola stated.
He, however, urged the beneficiaries not to spend the funds provided on frivolities but on the payment of their school fees and not on free money to buy phones, bags, and clothes.
“The whole idea was to assist your parents and to ensure that no brilliant student of Ogun West extraction drops out of school as a result of non-payment of school fees. I believe strongly that with this token, there will be some succour in alleviating the problems that could arise as a result of a recent increase in school fees across the nation.
“My motivation for this financial empowerment for the education sector is based on a vision that acknowledges the liberating role of good education in any kind of development,” he said.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbagbu, lauded the initiative of the lawmaker for assisting students with financial challenges in furthering their education with ease.
Arigbagbu, represented by the Zonal Education Officer, Ilaro, Mrs. R.O. Adigun, equally advised the beneficiaries to take the scholarship and bursary awards to remain the best among their equals.
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