Ondo Govt Disburses N286.7m Bursary To Students
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has reaffirmed his commitment to education and youth empowerment with the disbursement of ₦286.7 million in scholarships and bursaries to 4,837 students from oil-producing communities.
The intervention, implemented through the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), was flagged off at the Commission’s headquarters in Oba-Ile, Akure South Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, the OSOPADEC Chairman, Prince Olabiyi Poroye, said the gesture reflects Governor Aiyedatiwa’s prioritisation of human capital development under the “OUR EASE” Agenda.
Poroye noted that the 2023/2024 bursary cycle was the fastest to be approved and released since the scheme began in 2004, describing it as a bold policy statement on education.
He added that more than 5,000 students benefitted last year and assured that the Commission would sustain prompt disbursements in future cycles.
He disclosed that beyond bursaries, the Commission is also investing in classroom rehabilitation, school rebuilding, teacher training, and the provision of textbooks and furniture.
“Education remains the foundation of sustainable development. The governor’s approval of a record ₦33.8 billion budget for OSOPADEC is a policy statement that education and youth development are at the core of this administration,” Poroye said.
Poroye also called for an increase in the Commission’s share of the 13 percent oil derivation funds from 40 to 55 percent, citing the peculiar infrastructural and socio-economic challenges of developing riverine communities.
He noted that the 40 percent allocation has remained unchanged since 2004, described it as inadequate, and stressed that the Commission requires more resources to address staff welfare, improve its working environment, and execute developmental projects capable of attracting international partnerships.
“If the government gives us 55 percent, the people of the mandate areas will be happy, and we can assure them that OSOPADEC will do better.
“It is sad that despite the difficult terrain of our oil-producing areas, Ondo still receives only 40 percent. If you spend ₦100 million on a road in the upland, you will spend double, if not more, in the riverine,” Poroye said.
The First Lady, Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, who officially flagged off the scheme, said the programme demonstrates the government’s deliberate policy to ensure no child is left behind in access to quality education.
“This scheme embodies our resolve to build a brighter future for our children and youth. Ondo State believes in you and is investing in your potential to become tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and change-makers,” she told the beneficiaries.
She further highlighted other reforms in the sector, including the renovation of schools, the recruitment and training of teachers, and the supply of learning materials to strengthen primary and secondary education.
