AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Senator Sharafadeen Alli has paid the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees for 48 secondary school students and awarded scholarships to eight undergraduates across Oyo South Senatorial District.
The presentation took place on Thursday in Ibadan during the second edition of the Awards and Presentation of Scholarship Programme, organised by the Good Governance and Development Initiative (GGDI) in collaboration with Senator Alli.Senator Alli expressed satisfaction that the initiative—now operational in 20 centres—has continued to impact the lives of young learners, despite requiring millions of naira in personal sponsorship.
He noted that participants in the maiden edition are now in various tertiary institutions, describing the outcome as proof of the programme’s effectiveness and a motivation to expand its reach.
“I give glory to God that we are having the second edition today. It has impacted quite a number of people, as confirmed by supervisors, teachers, and pupils,” he said.
“Some of those who participated in the last edition are now undergraduates. That shows we are making an impact. We have increased the number of centres to 20 and expanded the scope to reach more children. The feedback has been impressive, and we are considering including more undergraduates in future editions.”
Chairman of the occasion, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, commended Senator Alli and GGDI for grooming the future generation through education. He urged beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity, stressing that education can take anyone beyond life’s expectations with dedication.
Prof. Peter Olapegba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Ibadan and guest lecturer, described education as a catalyst for national development. He called on other well-meaning Nigerians and organisations to emulate the senator’s gesture, emphasising that government alone cannot fund education sustainably.
“Government should prioritise functional education, as no nation can develop beyond the level of its education,” Olapegba said. “Beneficiaries must treat this as a lifetime opportunity—stay focused, disciplined, and determined to make something meaningful of your lives.”
GGDI Coordinator, Prof. Olayinka Omotosho, explained that the initiative was created to strengthen youth education and promote academic excellence in a society where distractions and misinformation are on the rise. He stressed that education remains the most sustainable form of empowerment, with long-term benefits for individuals and communities.
Stakeholders and parents at the event praised the programme for reigniting hope and providing a pathway to academic success for underprivileged children across the district.
The eight undergraduate beneficiaries of the first edition each received ₦100,000 to support their studies. Beneficiaries from Ibadan zone are Sekinat Adewole (FCE Osiele), Ireoluwa Sogunle (KWASU), Moyinoluwa Onaolapo (FUTA), and Abiodun Kolapo (UNIOSUN).
Those from Ibarapa are Rofiat Adeleke (LASU), Abiodun Okunlola (UNIOSUN), Ayomide Oyeyemi (University of Ibadan), and Silas Adejumo (University of Ibadan).
