The family of Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has awarded scholarships worth over ₦100 million to 831 indigent students across different levels of education under the Gbemiga Abiodun Memorial Education Support Programme.
The initiative, established in honour of the governor’s late son, Gbemiga Abiodun, is designed to sustain his legacy of generosity and ensure that financial constraints do not prevent disadvantaged students from accessing education.
Speaking at the third edition of the programme, held at Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Iperu, Abiodun said the scheme had supported a total of 1,277 students since its establishment in 2023.
He explained that the programme was inspired by his late son’s desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others, particularly the less privileged.
According to the governor, the family decided to preserve Gbemiga’s spirit of kindness through a structured intervention that would support indigent students and ease the financial burden on their families.
Abiodun disclosed that the beneficiaries for the 2025/2026 award year were selected from approximately 3,000 applications submitted through the programme’s online portal.
The beneficiaries cut across primary, secondary, technical and tertiary institutions, reflecting the scheme’s expanding reach and commitment to promoting educational opportunities for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
He said 150 new beneficiaries had been selected for tertiary-level scholarships, bringing the total number of students supported at that level to 274, including 124 continuing beneficiaries.
The governor also announced additional assistance for 80 Senior Secondary School students preparing for examinations and seeking admission into tertiary institutions.
He said the students would receive support for registration for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), alongside revision and practice sessions through the LEARN MORE WhatsApp platform.
Abiodun added that the programme would continue to engage beneficiaries and their parents to provide guidance and support throughout their academic journey.
He assured that the initiative would be sustained and expanded to accommodate more disadvantaged students, describing it as a practical demonstration of the family’s commitment to preserving Gbemiga’s legacy.
The governor said the scholarship scheme, which initially focused on the Remo axis, had expanded to cover all nine local government areas in Ogun East Senatorial District following its growing impact.
On vocational education, he disclosed that beneficiaries in technical colleges received ₦120,000 each in 2025 to acquire essential training equipment.
According to him, some of the beneficiaries had started practising their trades, securing paid assignments and improving their livelihoods.
He said the development demonstrated the potential of vocational education to promote self-reliance and create economic opportunities for young people.
Abiodun further announced plans to provide 20 selected beneficiaries with business development training, mentorship and start-up support of up to ₦250,000 each to encourage entrepreneurship.
In another intervention, he said 30 selected students in tertiary institutions would participate in a digital skills development programme covering digital marketing, software development, data and analytics, cybersecurity, and user interface and user experience design.
The governor urged wealthy individuals and corporate organisations to support efforts to improve access to education for vulnerable members of society.
He also advised the beneficiaries to make effective use of the opportunities provided and remain committed to their studies.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abayomi Arigbabu, commended the initiative for supporting academically promising students whose educational ambitions were threatened by financial difficulties.
Arigbabu urged the beneficiaries to remain focused and disciplined, noting that dedication to their studies would help them achieve their aspirations.
Lamisa Abiodun, sister of the late Gbemiga, congratulated the beneficiaries and encouraged those in technical colleges to take their training seriously and use the skills acquired to build productive lives.
Representatives of educational institutions and some beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the governor and his family, saying the intervention would reduce the financial burden on parents and guardians while helping students continue their education.
Earlier, the programme coordinator, Rev. Bola Oyeledun, said the initiative had grown from a family’s response to personal tragedy into a support programme offering hope to students whose families could not afford the cost of quality education.
He said its expansion from the Remo axis to all nine local government areas in Ogun East Senatorial District reflected the programme’s growing reach and impact.
