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A member of the National Assembly representing Oluyole Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, has launched a N25million scholarship scheme for students of tertiary institutions from her constituency.
Twenty-five beneficiaries of the first phase of the programme drawn from various schools in the country were presented with dummy cheques with the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker saying at the event that each of the beneficiaries would get N100, 000 paid directly into the account of their school to cover their tuition fees and incidental expenses.
According to Akande-Sadipe, who was a Special Adviser on Projects during the immediate past administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the beneficiaries will enjoy the scholarship from 2019 to 2023, when they are expected to have graduated.
She explained that each year, a new set of beneficiaries will be added to those currently on board until the N25million set aside for the scheme is exhausted.
Her words:“The reason I believe so passionately in helping to provide opportunity such as this is because education has the potential of transforming our nation, thereby creating progress and growth.
“Every citizen is a pillar of the nation and every a nation rests on billions of such pillars. The more educated the pillars are, the stronger the nation’s foundation would be.
“This is a great day for Oluyole Federal Constituency. In the midst of these scholars, I see tomorrow’s medical professionals, scientists, law enforcement officers, business executives, writers, lawyers. I hope a few of you someday will become legislators like me or even governor of Oyo State. Trust me, I will vote for you.”
Mr William Olufemi, the father of one of the beneficiaries, Esther Olufemi, a 100 Level student of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, while appreciating the lawmaker, described the scholarship as “a lifeline and a big relief” for his family.
He said since he was deported to Nigeria from Spain a couple of years ago, he had been living from hand to mouth and borrowing heavily for the upkeep of his family, just as he said a job had not been forthcoming despite several attempts at getting one.