By Oluwabukola Sunmoni
A total of 345 indigenous students from across the five local governments of the Ilorin Emirate have received full scholarships for their NECO examination registration fees, courtesy of a collaborative initiative between the Oluwole Awotuyi Educational Foundation and the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union.
SBS FM reporter, Oluwabukola Sunmoni, reports that about one hundred and twenty schools benefited from the bursary scheme. However, only five schools were presented with the dummy cheques to represent the five local governments in the Emirate.
Among the schools represented at the event, Asarul Islam Secondary School received two hundred and forty-five thousand naira; Government Secondary School, Malete got four hundred and twenty-five thousand naira; Government Secondary School, Alapa was presented with four hundred and eighty-five thousand, one hundred naira; while Government Day Secondary School, Amule collected three hundred and twenty-five thousand naira.
Representing the founder and CEO of Tuyil Pharmaceutical Industries, Senior Apostle Oluwole Awotuyi, was Badewa Adeyemi, General Manager of Diamond FM in Ilesa, Osun State. Adeyemi highlighted Awotuyi’s long-standing philanthropic legacy, noting his foundation’s regular support for orphans, widows, and special needs students across Kwara State. He expressed gratitude to IEDPU leadership for their sustained partnership and urged beneficiaries to maximize the opportunity.
Assistant National President of IEDPU, Alhaji Issa Abdulrauful Babatunde Onilu, who stood in for National President Abdulmuminu Abdulmalik, welcomed guests and reaffirmed the union’s commitment to educational advancement. He revealed that all beneficiaries from last year’s scholarship passed their examinations and are currently enrolled in various higher institutions. Onilu called on other well-to-do indigenes to emulate Awotuyi’s generosity.
NECO Zonal Coordinator for Kwara State, Mr. Donald Hadi, delivered a goodwill message praising the initiative as a significant relief to parents and a strategic contribution to reducing out-of-school children. He acknowledged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s contributions to education and charged beneficiaries to make their results a “thank you note” to the donor.
In her address, NECO Ag. Director for North Central Zone, Mrs. Bridget N Ogbuji, expressed profound appreciation for the partnership. In an exclusive interview with SBS FM, she emphasized that such initiatives give hope to Nigeria’s future and align with NECO’s consultancy unit’s mandate to mobilize sponsors for disadvantaged children.
The Balogun Fulani of Ilorin, one of the dignitaries honored at the event, presented a dummy check to a beneficiary school and commended the philanthropic gesture.
The ceremony was attended by prominent traditional rulers, union executives, parents, and the student beneficiaries.
