Eight students from three public secondary schools in Sepeteri, Oyo State, have received scholarships from the TOMEB Foundation for the 2026/2027 academic session, as the organisation marked the 15th edition of its scholarship award and lecture.

The students, comprising five girls and three boys, were honoured at a ceremony held at Sepeteri Town Hall in Saki East Local Council of the state on Friday, October 16, 2026. The event had the theme, “Education for Impact: Building Tomorrow’s Leaders”.

The scholarship scheme, which began in the 2012/2013 academic session, supports academically gifted students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, covering uniforms, core textbooks and official school fees throughout their three years of senior secondary education.

According to the founders, Dr Ahmed ‘Tunde Popoola and his wife, Mrs Mariam Mojisola Popoola, the initiative addresses a familiar problem: children who have the ability to excel but lack the resources to pursue their education without interruption. What began as support for five students across three schools has grown into a programme that has supported more than 106 scholars over 15 years, according to the foundation.

Speaking at the event, Popoola said the scheme was stimulated by the belief that a child’s circumstances at birth should not determine the limits of their ambitions. “Fifteen years ago, my wife and I began with a simple belief that where a child is born should never limit how far they can dream,” he said. He recalled how the founders had seen talented children struggle because they lacked access to books, mentors and the support needed to pursue their education.

“TOMEB Foundation grew out of that conviction. What started as a small effort to support five students across three schools here in Sepeteri has, over 15 years, become a growing family of more than 106 scholars, many of whom have since gone on to become graduates, working professionals, and mentors themselves to the next generation coming up behind them,” he said. Popoola said the foundation had supported students from Community High School, Muslim Grammar School and Obalufon Grammar School in Sepeteri, with beneficiaries progressing to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and colleges of health technology across Nigeria. He added that more than 80 per cent of the foundation’s scholars had gained admission into higher institutions, describing the figure as a key measure of the scheme’s progress.

“We are proud to say that over 80 per cent of our scholars have gone on to gain admission into higher institutions, a figure that sits at the very heart of what this scheme set out to achieve,” he said.

“But beyond the certificates and the admission letters lies something harder to put a figure on, the confidence we have watched take root in a child who once doubted whether such a future was even available to someone like them,” he said. He acknowledged the contributions of teachers, parents, interview panellists, coordinators, sponsors and other supporters who have sustained the scheme over the years.

“TOMEB Foundation will keep opening doors but it is what you do once you walk through them that will define you.” He added.

How the scholarship works
Established to encourage economic self-sufficiency, environmental responsibility and community development, TOMEB Foundation uses education and enterprise development to help young people realise their potential and contribute meaningfully to society. Its scholarship scheme focuses on students at a critical stage of their education: the three years of senior secondary school. The support is conditional on satisfactory academic performance and conduct, as reported by the school principal.

According to the foundation, applicants must be academically outstanding, come from financially disadvantaged homes and demonstrate good character. Selection involves a written examination and an oral interview conducted by a committee. The process is designed to ensure that scholarships are awarded on merit while taking financial need into account.

The founders also committed to including at least two girls in the annual selection. However, the foundation said it had not needed to enforce the requirement because girls had continued to qualify through the selection process.

By the 2021/2022 academic session, the foundation had supported 60 scholars across the three participating schools, including 32 girls. Its beneficiaries have proceeded to at least 17 higher institutions in Nigeria, including the Federal University of Technology, Minna; the University of Abuja; Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

For students whose families might otherwise struggle to meet the costs of schooling, the assistance provides more than relief from immediate expenses. It also gives them the opportunity to concentrate on their studies without the same level of financial pressure. The foundation’s work has extended beyond the provision of scholarships. Its activities include mentoring, coaching, capacity-building workshops and one-on-one business clinics with experienced practitioners.

Between 2012 and 2015, TOMEB Foundation represented Nigeria in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor and produced the country’s reports for the period. In 2015, it also partnered with ExxonMobil and Shell to organise an empowerment day for final-year students of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. The foundation’s activities reflect its broader interest in helping young people develop the skills and confidence to participate in economic and social life.

Former scholars reflect on their journeys
For past beneficiaries, the scholarship’s significance is best understood through the opportunities it has made possible. Abdulazeez Aminu, the foundation’s first undergraduate scholarship awardee, who attended the Federal University of Technology, Minna, said the support marked an important milestone in his educational journey. At a time when the foundation was mainly known for supporting secondary school students, Aminu’s undergraduate scholarship enabled him to continue his education with financial assistance.

“The scholarship meant much more to me than financial support. It relieved a significant part of the financial pressure that came with my university education and allowed me to focus more fully on my studies,” he said. He added that the support also strengthened his sense of responsibility towards his education and future. “Knowing that someone believed in me enough to invest in my education made me want to work harder and make the opportunity count,” he said, expressing gratitude to Popoola and his wife.

Daniel Temiloluwa Oyesola, a beneficiary of the 2020/2021 academic session, said the scholarship had helped him pursue his education with greater confidence. Now a 400-level student of Nutrition and Dietetics at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Oyesola said the experience had changed how he viewed opportunities and personal responsibility.

“The scholarship also changed my mentality. It taught me to value opportunities, remain committed to my goals, and understand that my background or challenges should not determine how far I can go,” he said.

He said he hoped to support others in the future, just as the foundation had supported him. “I am deeply
grateful to TOMEB Foundation for believing in young people like me and investing in our future. I hope that one day, I will also be in a position to give back and positively impact someone else’s life, just as TOMEB Foundation has impacted mine,” he said.

Edwin Goodluck Emmanuel, a beneficiary of the 2025/2026 academic session, also credited the foundation with providing support and opportunities that had made a difference in his life. He praised its commitment to helping young people pursue a better future, expressing gratitude to those behind the initiative.

Building beyond Sepeteri
At the 15th edition of the scholarship award and lecture, the foundation brought together professionals from finance, academia and public service to discuss education and leadership. The event was chaired by Dr ‘Bade Adeshina, chairman of Health Assur Ltd. The guest speakers were Professor Y. K. Yusuf of the Department of English at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and Alhaji Bashir Tayo Lawal, FCTI, CNA, a deputy director and tax controller at the Nigeria Revenue Service.

Their participation reflected the foundation’s emphasis on the contribution of different professions to developing individuals and strengthening communities. The foundation’s organisers also acknowledged the work of volunteers and supporters who have helped administer the scholarship. These include teachers who identify promising students, panellists who conduct examinations and interviews, coordinators who manage the programme in Sepeteri, and sponsors who support students and resource persons.

Although the awards ceremony takes place on a single day, the scholarship’s support continues throughout the beneficiaries’ secondary school years. Its success therefore depends not only on selecting students but also on the sustained involvement of the people responsible for helping them remain in school and meet the programme’s requirements.

As the foundation marks 15 editions of the scheme, its stated ambition is to extend the initiative beyond the three schools in Sepeteri to other schools in Oyo State and, eventually, other states, depending on available resources.

For now, its work remains centred on helping students in the community gain access to education and progress to higher institutions. The eight recipients for the 2026/2027 academic session are Oyesola Deborah and Oyesola Dorcas of Community High School, and Adeleke Aishat, Muftau Aishat, Olayinka Sodiq, Usman Aishat, Sefiu Abdurahman and Muideen Jamiu of Muslim Grammar School.