Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, OSOPADEC, yesterday disbursed N286.7 million to 4,873 students from oil producing areas.
The wife of the governor, Mrs Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, during the disbursement, said the scheme was the 2023/2024 Scholarship and Bursary Award to indigenous students of Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas.
Mrs Aiyedatiwa said the gesture was an incentive dedicated to empowering future leaders of the state.
She stated that over 5,000 students benefited from the scheme in 2022/2023, adding that it had impacted many students in their academic pursuit.
The governor’s wife stated that the gesture was part of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s renewed demonstration to build a brighter future for children and youths in the state.
“It reflects this administration’s commitment to ensure that no child is left behind in the pursuit of education, thereby fostering a society where every individual can reach their full potentials,” she said.
She commended the governor for his visionary leadership and people-centered governance.
“Since assuming office, the governor has placed the welfare of the people as the main focus of his administration through “OUR EASE” policy hhrust,” she said.
She stated that the administration had taken bold and transformative steps in education, infrastructure, healthcare development, economic empowerment and security.
“The governor’s vision continues to inspire us to redouble our efforts in uplifting our communities and empowering our youths,” she said.
She asked the beneficiaries to make use of the money, adding that they should also be good ambassadors of the state in their respective endeavours.
The Chairman of OSOPADEC, Prince Olabiyi Poroye, said the 2023/2024 scholarship and award cycle recorded the fastest approval by any governor since the inception of the scheme.
Poroye added that there was firm assurance that the 2024/2025 scheme would equally be paid without delay.
He stated that the gesture was a clear demonstration of the commission’s commitment to empower young people to pursue their dreams without fear of financial burden.
Poroye also expressed the commission’s dedication to renovate and rebuild schools, provision of textbooks, furniture and training of teachers.
He added that the mandate of the commission extends beyond educational development and cuts across human development for the benefit of the mandate areas.
According to him, OSOPADEC has been redesigned to impact people of the mandate areas in infrastructure and tackling of their welfare through different economic programmes.
Poroye appreciated the governor who had strengthened and administratively repositioned the commission to deliver on its mandate.
The OSOPADEC chairman pleaded with the state government to increase the commission’s allocation from 40 to 55 percent out of the 13 percent oil derivation fund. (NAN)
