• As foundation awards over N21m cash prizes at Scholarship Summit

The Ekiti State Government has said that it has expended over ₦559 million on bursaries across schools within three years since the inception of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration.This was as a non-governmental organisation under the auspices of the Muyiwa Igbalajobi Foundation, which awarded $15,000 (over ₦21 million) in cash prizes and provided mentorship to students of Ekiti origin at the state’s maiden Scholarship Summit.

The government stated this at the weekend during the opening ceremony of the two-day maiden virtual Scholarship Summit organised by the Muyiwa Igbalajobi Foundation and themed: “Scholarships, Innovation and the Future of Ekiti Youths”.

The State Commissioner for Education, Olabimpe Aderiye, who represented the governor at the event, noted that the scholarship disbursements, which cut across undergraduate, postgraduate, law students, and students with disabilities, have benefited thousands of Ekiti students within the period.

Giving the breakdown, she noted that within three years, the government disbursed over ₦559 million to 1,779 law students, 255 PhD students, 240 Master’s students, and 1,986 undergraduates.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Convener of the initiative, Dr Muyiwa Igbalajobi, expressed appreciation to the state government for its sustained investment in education, describing himself as a beneficiary of Ekiti’s scholarship scheme.

He said the summit was aimed at mentoring and supporting youths across the state’s 16 local government areas, while also honouring the legacy of his late father, Professor Caleb Igbalajobi, a former chairman of the Ekiti State Education Trust Fund.

He stressed that twenty speakers were carefully selected from around the globe to mentor and inspire the participants.

The Convener expressed appreciation to the state government for its sustained investment in education, describing himself as a beneficiary of Ekiti’s scholarship scheme.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Ekiti State Scholarship Board, Bukola Faluyi, said the board had fully digitalised its scholarship and bursary processes to promote transparency, efficiency, and equal access for all eligible Ekiti students, explaining that the reforms were designed to eliminate human interference and ensure that awards are strictly merit-based.

Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Professor Joseph Ayodele, commended Governor Oyebanji and the Commissioner for Education for prioritising education.

He equally lauded Dr Igbalajobi’s initiative, describing it as a necessity for the fulfilment of Governor Oyebanji’s shared prosperity agenda.