About 170 students of Osun State origin in tertiary institutions across the country on Saturday benefitted from education grants through the IleriOluwa Education Support Scheme.
According to the organisers, the 4th phase of the programme covered those who scored 200 and above in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).
Addressing the beneficiaries, Chairman, Governing Council, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso emphasised the need for students to cultivate good academic discipline.
Stressing that focus, determination and discipline are keys to achieving academic success, Oyeweso implored them to shun vices that may truncate their future dreams and aspirations.
The Guest Lecturer at the event and former Dean of Students’ Affairs, Osun State University, Prof. ‘Seye Abiona took the beneficiaries through what they should expect at the tertiary institutions.
Abiona challenged the students to pursue excellence as it is the only way to reaching their desired zenith in life.
Other stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun including Prof. Aderemi Ajala of the University of Ibadan urged the students to imbibe good moral and academic values, as well as, strive to judiciously use the opportunity provide to come out in flying colours.
The facilitator, IleriOluwa Education Support Scheme and the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Engr. Olalekan Badmus said the event which is the fourth in the series is geared towards motivating brilliant young minds to achieve excellence in their academic pursuit.
His words, “We are happy to report that this is the 4th phase of the scheme. Since we began, we have facilitated support in millions of Naira to students. We have also provided free instructional materials and free forms to students aiming to get into tertiary institutions.
“This is a follow-up to the free JAMB forms we provided earlier in the year. We want to monitor these young lads and support them till they are out of school. This batch of 170 comprises those who scored 200 and above and those who scores are close to the benchmark.
“This project is inspired by our leader and mentor, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola, who has an undying love and passion for education. He has supported us hugely to make this possible and we will continue to be guided by his worthy mentorship and leadership.
“IleriOluwa Education Support Scheme is to ensure that we erode the narrative that every Tom, Dick and Harry without a sound academic background feel Osun is a home for the lazy ones. We will change the narrative. Gradually, we shall attain that feat in Osun,” Badmus noted.
The event featured the presentation of N100,000 grant to beneficiaries who scored 200 and above, while those who could not score 200 went home with N10,000 cash gift each.
Other gifts and souvenirs such as smart bags, writing pads and more were also distributed to students in tertiary institutions.