Oladiji Awards Scholarships, Educational Materials to Ondo East Students
The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, has awarded scholarships and distributed educational materials and other empowerment items to students and residents of Ondo East Local Government Area as part of efforts to promote education and youth development.
The intervention was announced on Friday, September 25, 2026, during the fourth edition of Oladiji’s Mega Educational Empowerment Programme held at the Civic Centre, Bolorunduro, Ondo East Local Government Area.
The programme brought together students from 12 public and six private secondary schools across the local government and featured the distribution of educational materials, cash gifts and scholarships, alongside a quiz competition.
Speaking at the event, Oladiji urged students to shun negative influences, embrace hard work and acquire relevant skills to prepare for future challenges.
He said the initiative was designed to ensure that constituents benefited directly from what he described as the dividends of democracy, adding that the impact of public service should be measured by the lives positively affected.
According to him, the programme was also aimed at bridging the gap between government policies and the people by creating opportunities for young people, women and families to improve their livelihoods.
Oladiji said beneficiaries of previous editions had used the interventions to support their businesses, education and families, adding that the positive outcomes had encouraged the continuation and expansion of the programme.
“The future of Ondo State belongs to you. The future must be prepared for and worked for. Acquire skills, embrace innovation, shun negative influence and remain committed to peace and nation-building,” he told the students.
The Speaker disclosed that the 2026 edition introduced a quiz competition through which participating students would compete for scholarships to support their education up to the tertiary level.
He also highlighted his scholarship intervention for constituents studying at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, and the Ondo State School of Medical Sciences, describing the initiative as part of his commitment to supporting his constituents.
Oladiji appreciated members of the planning committee, led by his Special Adviser on Youth Affairs and Engagement, Mr. Akintayo Akinjolie, as well as supporters and well-wishers who contributed to the success of the programme.
He assured constituents that the initiative would continue, noting that the State House of Assembly would collaborate with the executive and other stakeholders on policies promoting economic empowerment, youth development and inclusive governance across the state.
Representing the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the Senior Special Assistant on Technical and Vocational Education, Mr. Oluyi Tayo, commended Oladiji for sustaining the educational empowerment programme.
Oluyi described education as the bedrock of societal development and said investment in young people’s education was an investment in the future of the state.
He said the initiative aligned with the educational objectives of the Aiyedatiwa administration under its EASE agenda, particularly in human capital development.
According to him, the provision of scholarships, learning materials and other educational incentives represented a practical response to some of the challenges facing students. He also called on other well-meaning indigenes to emulate the initiative.
Earlier, Akinjolie, who chairs the planning committee, described the programme as a fulfilment of the Speaker’s promise to his constituents.
He said the initiative demonstrated that effective leadership was measured by lives touched and opportunities created rather than titles or positions, urging beneficiaries to use the materials and opportunities provided to them wisely.
In her keynote address, the Director, Ondo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Tola Adeniyi, said the intervention had helped address some of the challenges capable of hindering students from achieving their educational goals.
She urged beneficiaries to make effective use of the educational materials and other support provided and remain committed to academic excellence.
The quiz competition, which formed part of the scholarship selection process, produced Kolawole Surprise of Temidire Community High School and Alimi Wareez of Sokoto Ogundele High School as the first and second runners-up respectively among public secondary schools.
In the private school category, Omole Deborah of Godliness Model College and Olumuyiwa Praise of Godliness Academy emerged first and second runners-up respectively.
The programme ended with the presentation of gifts to the quiz competition winners and the distribution of educational materials and other empowerment items to beneficiaries.
