Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has reinforced his administration’s commitment to education and youth empowerment with the release of ₦286.7 million in scholarships and bursaries to 4,837 students from oil-producing communities.
The intervention, facilitated through the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), was launched at the Commission’s headquarters in Oba-Ile, Akure South Local Government Area.
Speaking at the event, OSOPADEC Chairman, Prince Olabiyi Poroye, described the gesture as a bold statement on education under Governor Aiyedatiwa’s “OUR EASE” Agenda. He noted that the 2023/2024 bursary cycle was the fastest to be approved and released since the scheme began in 2004.
Poroye disclosed that more than 5,000 students benefited last year and assured that the Commission would sustain prompt disbursements in subsequent cycles. He further highlighted OSOPADEC’s broader investments in classroom rehabilitation, school rebuilding, teacher training, and the provision of learning materials and furniture.
“Education remains the foundation of sustainable development. The governor’s approval of a record ₦33.8 billion budget for OSOPADEC is a clear policy statement that education and youth development are at the core of this administration,” he said.
The OSOPADEC chairman also called for an increase in the Commission’s share of the 13 percent oil derivation allocation from 40 to 55 percent, citing the high cost of projects in riverine communities compared to upland areas. He stressed that the current allocation, unchanged since 2004, was inadequate to meet the infrastructural and socio-economic needs of the oil-producing areas.
Ondo First Lady, Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, who officially flagged off the scheme, said the programme reflects the government’s resolve to ensure equitable access to quality education.
“This scheme embodies our determination 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 also reiterated the government’s broader reforms in the sector, including school renovation, teacher recruitment and training, and the provision of modern learning resources at both primary and secondary levels.
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