Oyo UTME candidate receives ₦2.4million scholarship from SQI College of ICT

A frontline IT institution, SQI College of ICT, has awarded a ₦2.4 million scholarship to Olalude David Ayodeji, the best performing candidate in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) across Ogbomoso Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Ayodeji, who achieved an outstanding score of 341, was granted this scholarship to pursue a 12-month professional training in Robotics Engineering at the college’s AI and Robotics Research Centre.

In a surprise visit to Deeper Life High School, where Ayodeji is a student, the academic team from SQI College of ICT presented the scholarship. They congratulated the student, his parents, and the school on this remarkable achievement.

During the presentation, the Rector of the College, Dr Adegbenro Sunday Ajani, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to nurturing talent and empowering students to excel in the global technology industry.

In his address to the students, Dr Ajani emphasized SQI College’s mission since its inception in 2008 to build a strong pipeline of technology professionals. He noted that the college has successfully trained over 15,000 students in various ICT disciplines, with its alumni securing positions at major tech firms such as Google, Microsoft, MTN, Interswitch and more. He encouraged the students to strive for similar success, stressing the importance of ICT education in creating employment opportunities and driving national development.

In 2021, SQI College of ICT received accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to offer Innovation Enterprise Institution (IEI) programs. These programs award National Innovation Diplomas (NID) in fields such as Computer Software and Hardware Engineering, with additional specialisations in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Robotics, Cybersecurity, UI/UX Design, and Digital Marketing.

The scholarship, part of the college’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, is awarded annually to the highest-scoring JAMB candidate in the Ogbomoso region. The college management assured that similar scholarships will be extended to top performers in other national exams, including WAEC and NECO, to further encourage academic excellence at both state and national levels.

Mrs Aderemi, Principal of Deeper Life High School, expressed deep appreciation to SQI College of ICT for the recognition, pledging to maintain the school’s high academic standards. Similarly, Ayodeji’s parents conveyed their heartfelt gratitude to the college for acknowledging their son’s achievements and providing him with such a prestigious scholarship.

In support of this initiative, Professor Adekunle Adefemi, a renowned mechatronics expert from the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, and Honourable Abiodun Oluwaseun Laurel, Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde on Project Delivery, praised SQI College for its investment in the future of ICT education. Professor Adekunle highlighted the critical role that Robotics Engineering and Artificial Intelligence play in national development and applauded Ayodeji’s decision to pursue a career in this innovative field.

This scholarship not only represents a significant achievement for Olalude David Ayodeji but also underscores SQI College of ICT’s ongoing dedication to fostering the next generation of tech leaders in Nigeria.