Oyo HoS, family to empower 30 indigent students

The Oyo State Head of Service (HoS), Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, and her siblings are set to empower 30 less privileged students in Nigeria through an education support scheme in memory of their late parents.

According to her, the scheme, aimed at alleviating the financial burden of education for underprivileged students, will be implemented across the country.

Oni, née Ogunkeyede, told newsmen in Ilorin on Monday that the education scheme was established to immortalise their parents, who instilled in them the spirit of uplifting the less privileged.

According to her, the late Chief Joshua Adedeji and Chief Racheal Jolade Ogunkeyede had a charitable compassion and commitment to educational advancement.

She said, “The family is following our parents’ footsteps through the education support scheme.”

She further explained that the Ogunkeyede family, from Esa Oke in Osun State, established the program to alleviate the current economic challenges facing many Nigerian families.

“We have witnessed how small financial barriers, like the inability to afford school bags, uniforms, textbooks, or tuition fees, can derail a student’s educational journey,” she said.

Oni explained that the family will support each beneficiary with over N50,000 to cover some of these costs and prevent young people from being denied the opportunity for education.

Oni stated that the initiative is not the family’s first foray into educational philanthropy, disclosing that they had previously instituted a scholarship at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Esa Oke, in Osun State.

She added that this includes the provision of tuition for indigent youths who perform well in the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams and gain admission to tertiary institutions.

The HoS acknowledged that, recognizing the limitations of the previous program, the family decided to expand the reach of their charitable efforts.

“The newly launched scheme aims to provide N50,000 and above in financial support to students at various levels of education, including primary, secondary, and tertiary.”

“A total of 30 beneficiaries will be selected from the 50 applicants who have already applied. In the spirit of fairness, no two individuals from the same family will be chosen,” she said.

The philanthropist appealed to other well-meaning Nigerians to key into such initiatives and support the government at all tiers in developing the education sector through human capital development.

She also called on the Federal, State, and Local governments to coordinate efforts in providing educational support, urging them to avoid duplication and maximise the impact of their contributions.

Oni encouraged private individuals to establish similar foundations to sponsor education or healthcare, ensuring that more lives can be transformed.

“Currently, the educational support scheme is not yet a registered NGO or foundation, but plans for formal registration are underway,” she said.