Abiodun doles out N55m in scholarship to indigent students in memory of late son

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has instituted a scholarship award scheme for 550 indigent students in Remo Federal Constituency of the state in honour of his late son, Gbemiga Abiodun, who died six years ago.

The scholarships cover pupils in primary and secondary schools as well as those in vocational and tertiary institutions. The scheme is sponsored entirely by the Dapo Abiodun family and will be extended to other federal constituencies in the state for maximum spread.

Speaking at the launch of the Gbemiga Abiodun Education Scholarship Award held at Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area, Abiodun said the scheme will ensure that brilliant students and those whose parents could not afford to educate them have access to quality education.

He said, “It is against this backdrop that my family came up with a scholarship scheme called Gbemiga Abiodun Memorial Scholarship Award, in memory of our son, Gbemiga Abiodun, which is strictly for indigent learners of public primary, secondary schools, technical college and tertiary institutions, as well as special needs learners within Ikenne, Remo North, and Sagamu Local Government Areas.”

The governor described education as the only light to the future of prosperity, development and peaceful co-existence, noting that the programme was conceived to celebrate the impactful and eventful life of Gbemiga Abiodun and all that he stood for while alive. He said the deceased lived a life of selflessness, consistency and scholarship.

“Olu, beyond his popular chosen career as a disc jockey had an unwavering passion for sound education, which he pursued passionately till God called him to be with him on that fateful day of 7th October, 2017. It is instructive to know that Olu’s chosen career as a disc jockey was a product of his innate passion for music and rhythms at a very tender age; the passion he consistently pursued to the apogee,” the governor added.

Abiodun also decried the low enrollment of girls in male-dominated trades in technical colleges and vocational centres compared to boys. He regretted that despite the free education policy of his administration and students in higher institutions paying less, many basic school graduates are hindered from proceeding beyond junior or secondary schools and acquiring tertiary education.

He called on the beneficiaries to make the best of the scheme to better their lots, saying it is the best way his family would keep the memory of the deceased alive. He also promised that the number of beneficiaries will increase to 1000 in the next 12 months, which will be the minimum at any given time.

Meanwhile, giving a brief on the scheme, the Special Adviser to the governor on Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, said 200 learners from public primary schools would receive N50,000 each to take care of their educational materials. He said 200 students from public secondary schools would get N100,000 each for their educational materials. He also said 100 students in tertiary institutions would be paid N250,000 each to take care of their educational needs.

Prof. Arigbabu explained further that a dedicated account would be opened for beneficiaries in the primary and secondary schools to be disbursed by their head teachers and principals. He said those in tertiary institutions would receive theirs personally.

He said: “This scholarship award is designed for a period of three years and within the age bracket of 6-25. Selection will be determined by the State Ministry of Education Science and Technology, using the Cumulative Promotion Examination Result obtainable from the OGSERA platform while the beneficiaries for tertiary institutions were recommended by their respective institutions.”

In her opening remarks, the wife of the governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, said the scheme is to impart on the lives of the beneficiaries and their parents, especially at these trying times. She expressed hope that the scheme would achieve its purpose of bringing succour to the benefiting families.