Lawmaker offers scholarship to 11 indigent tertiary students in Kwara

Lawmaker offers scholarship to 11 indigent tertiary students in Kwara

Empowerment
By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara), March 3, 2020 (NAN) No fewer than 11 indigent students in Irepodun Local Government area of Kwara State, have received various cash donations through a scholarship scheme organised by Rep Raheem Olawuyi’s constituency office in Omu-Aran.
Olawuyi, represented by his Senior Legislative Aide, Abdulganiyu Abdulsalam, at the presentation on Tuesday said that the gesture was geared toward complementing and improving upon the students’ academic performances.
The Rep member represents Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency under the All Progressive Congress (APC).
He said that the scholarship scheme was also part of the constituency’s efforts towards achieving the desired transformation in the areas of education, entrepreneurship, skills and human capital development.
According to him, the selected beneficiaries are among those who obtained obtained the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms of the constituency and secured admission in tertiary institutions across the country.
Olawuyi said that the presentation of various cash to the students’ beneficiaries was in fulfillment of his earlier promise to cater for the tuition fees of whoever made the cut-off mark and subsequently secured admission in furthering their studies.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the amount given to each of the beneficiaries ranges from N38, 000 to N53,000 to cover their tuition fees.
NAN also reports that 400 candidates obtained the free UTME forms and sat for the examination under the constituency’s scholarship empowerment scheme in 2019 from where the 11 beneficiaries were selected.
“Education remained the best legacy and the bedrock of social-economic development in any civilised society which must not be toyed with.
“This is why we have made it a point of duty to do whatever within our capacity in supporting our youth and their parents in the bid to achieve academic excellence.
“Our youth need to be complimented and encouraged to toe the path of quality and qualitative education for them to be useful to themselves and the larger society.
“Few months ago over 500 of the youth populace drawn across the four councils of the constituency were trained on how to access the benefit of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.
“The objective is to avail the youth the opportunity to access various facilities and incentives of the Federal Government through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Central Bank of Nigeria.
“When the youth are engaged productively they will not be found wanting as far as insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other illicit acts are concerned,” he said.
Olawuyi urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the constituency in their various institutions of learning.
Mr Shuaib Olanrewaju, an All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart in the constituency, in his remarks, described the gesture as highly beneficial and unprecedented in the history of the constituency.
“This is marvelous coming from Rep Olawuyi. We have never had it this good in the constituency.
“I want to appeal to you the beneficiaries to reciprocate this kind gesture by excelling in your various courses,’’ he advised.
Mr Yemi Aransiola, the APC Chairman in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, said that the series of achievement in the constituency were good testimonies of the party’s victories in the last general elections.
“This scholarship and other achievements within the short period of Olawuyi’s representation have no doubt justified our victories and taking over the leadership from the past regime.
“My advice is for the beneficiaries to continue to maintain the same spirit and tempo in reciprocating this laudable gesture from our amiable Rep member,” he said.
Nafisat Amuda of Kwara State Polytechnic and Abib Ajiboye of the University of Ilorin, both beneficiaries, described the gesture as very timely, beneficial and a morale booster.
NAN reports that the scholarship presentation was witnessed by party members and leaders across the four councils of the constituency. (NAN)
ISHO/MAM/DCU
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Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Donald Ugwu