“Upon his death, the family resolved to preserve that spirit of generosity through a structured intervention to support indigent students and ensure that financial difficulties did not deprive them of educational opportunities”
Governor’s family awards over ₦100m scholarships to 831 indigent students
By Nudoiba Ojen
The family of Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has awarded scholarships worth over ₦100m to 831 indigent students across different levels of education in Ogun East Senatorial District.
The gesture was under the Gbemiga Abiodun Memorial Education Support Programme, an initiative established to sustain the humanitarian legacy of the governor’s late son, Gbemiga.
Governor Abiodun, who made the disclosure at the third edition of the programme, held at Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Iperu, noted that the initiative had supported a total of 1,277 students since its establishment in 2023.
The governor said that the foundation was established in honour of his late son, Gbemiga Abiodun, to sustain his passion for helping others, particularly the less privileged.
Abiodun said, “The initiative was inspired by Gbemiga’s desire while alive, to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Following his death, the family resolved to preserve that spirit of generosity through a structured intervention to support indigent students and ensure that financial difficulties did not deprive them of educational opportunities”.
Abiodun said the beneficiaries for the 2025/2026 award year were selected from approximately 3,000 applications received through the programme’s online portal.
“The beneficiaries comprised primary school pupils, secondary school students, technical college students and students in tertiary institutions, with the scheme designed to promote access to education and ease the financial burden on disadvantaged families”.
He disclosed that 150 new beneficiaries were selected for tertiary-level scholarships, while 124 continuing beneficiaries brought the total number of students supported at that level to 274.
The governor also announced additional support for 80 Senior Secondary School students preparing for their examinations and seeking admission into tertiary institutions.
The students will receive assistance with 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.
The programme will also sustain engagement with beneficiaries and their parents to provide guidance and support throughout their academic journey.
Abiodun assured that the initiative would be sustained and expanded to enable more disadvantaged students to access quality education, describing it as a practical demonstration of the family’s commitment to preserving Gbemiga’s legacy of kindness and generosity.
He explained that 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 success and growing impact.
Highlighting the vocational education component introduced in 2025, the governor said beneficiaries in technical colleges received ₦120,000 each to acquire essential training equipment.
According to him, some beneficiaries had already begun practising their trades, undertaking paid assignments and improving their livelihoods, demonstrating the potential of vocational education to promote self-reliance and economic empowerment.
He further disclosed 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 aimed at preparing young people for emerging opportunities, Abiodun announced that 30 selected tertiary institution students would participate in a digital skills development programme covering digital marketing, software development, data and analytics, cybersecurity, and user interface and user experience (UI/UX) design.
The governor called on wealthy individuals and organisations to support efforts to improve access to education for vulnerable members of society, urging the beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunities provided and remain committed to their studies.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, commended the initiative for providing academically promising but financially disadvantaged students with opportunities to pursue their educational ambitions.
He urged the beneficiaries to remain focused and disciplined, noting that commitment to their studies would help them realise their aspirations.
Lamisa Abiodun, sister of the late Gbemiga Abiodun, congratulated the beneficiaries and encouraged those in technical colleges to take their training seriously and use the skills acquired to build meaningful and productive lives.
Representatives of educational institutions and some beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the governor and his family for the support, noting that the initiative would ease the financial burden on parents and guardians while helping students continue their education.
In his opening remarks, the programme coordinator, Rev. Bola Oyeledun, said the initiative had evolved from a family’s response to personal tragedy into a programme offering hope and relief to students whose families could not afford the cost of quality education.
He added that the programme, which initially focused on the Remo axis, had expanded to cover all nine local government areas in Ogun East Senatorial District.
