Oyo State Launches Payment of Bursary Awards for Students – International Edition (English)
IBADAN – The government of Oyo State has initiated the disbursement of scholarship funds to students from Oyo State who are enrolled in law schools, medical institutions, aviation academies, as well as final-year university and HND programs nationwide.
Approximately 2,950 recipients were selected from around 3,000 applicants who fulfilled the established requirements for the prize, according to Victor Olojede, the Senior Special Assistant on Students' Affairs to Governor Seyi Makinde, who spoke on Friday.
He pointed out that the governor had previously sanctioned the scholarship amounting to N554,989,000, referring to him as a supporter of the students.
He stated: "Our purpose today is to formally initiate the distribution of scholarship funds to final-year students from Oyo State who are enrolled in polytechnics, universities, the Nigerian Law School, Aviation Schools, as well as Medical and Clinical Institutions."
In March 2024, the governor gave approval for the bursary award process. More than 3,000 students initiated their registrations, and following thorough verification, only 2,950 remained eligible. Several students didn’t make the cut as they failed to satisfy the required conditions.
Once the procedure was completed, we presented the list to the governor for the approval of the scholarship disbursement, totaling more than ₦554,989,000 (Five Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Nine Naira Only).
Among the 2,950 recipients, approximately 105 are medical and clinical students. We also have four who study maritime and aviation fields, with the remainder being final-year students at polytechnics and universities.
Governor Makinde merits recognition since past administrations overlooked providing bursaries and scholarships for students at educational institutions across Nigeria. However, Governor Makinde has taken steps to address this issue.
Earlier, Chairman of the Oyo State Scholarship Board, Rt. Hon. Olawale Atilola, stated that the grant distribution serves as evidence of Governor Makinde’s commitment to investing in education.
He urged the recipients to utilize the scholarships and grants responsibly, stating: "Prior to this point, the beneficiaries had submitted their applications roughly around last year, and following the completion of all necessary procedures, they are now receiving their payments."
“I will advise them to make use of the money judiciously to buy books and do other things that can enhance their education.”
Several recipients, when approached by journalists, praised the governor for authorizing scholarship and grant provisions for Oyo State students, noting that this level of support had not been seen from the state administration in quite some time.
One of the recipients, Yetunde Ayoola, stated: "Prior to receiving this bursary, I was solely dependent on financial assistance from my parents. I had never received any scholarship before since I did not meet the requirements related to age and various other factors set forth for available scholarships."
“However, for this particular opportunity, the sole requirement is for me to be a native of Oyo State, qualifying me for the scholarship. I am extremely grateful and wish to express my thanks to Governor Seyi Makinde for initiating this program that we are now enjoying.”
Likewise, a recipient named Akanbi Mayowa expressed his gratitude by saying, "I'm truly thankful for being shortlisted for this bursary. It will alleviate the burden of covering my final-year tuition fees. This support will significantly enhance my educational journey."
Prior to receiving this scholarship, I was constantly taking up various part-time jobs to make ends meet and relying on minimal financial assistance from my parents to cover my tuition fees.
Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to the governor for this. He stands out as one of the most exceptional governors both within our state and across the nation.
Similarly, a Medicine and Surgery student from the University of Ibadan mentioned, "We are here for the screening process. In previous years, we did not receive any disbursement of scholarships, making this our first experience with such."
This will be beneficial for us regarding both our final year fees and our induction fees, making it quite timely.
“For me, it is my first time of benefitting from a bursary like this and it will be very helpful for me.”
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