Governor Abiodun's Family Gives Over N100m in Scholarships to 831 Needy Students

Governor Dapo Abiodun's family has given out scholarships worth over ₦100 million to 831 needy students at different education levels. This is part of the Gbemiga Abiodun Memorial Education Support Programme. This initiative was set up to carry on the good work of the governor's late son.

Governor Abiodun shared this news at the third edition of the programme. The event took place at Christ Apostolic Grammar School in Iperu. He said the initiative has helped a total of 1,277 students since it started in 2023.

He explained that the foundation was created in memory of his late son, Gbemiga Abiodun. It aims to keep his spirit of helping others alive, especially for those who are less privileged.

According to the governor, Gbemiga always wanted to make a positive impact on people's lives. After his passing, the family decided to continue his legacy by helping needy students. They want to ensure that money issues do not stop these students from getting an education.

For the 2025/2026 award year, Abiodun said they received about 3,000 applications through the programme's online portal. The beneficiaries include primary school pupils, secondary school students, technical college students, and those in tertiary institutions. The goal is to make education more accessible and lighten the financial load on struggling families.

He noted that 150 new beneficiaries were chosen for tertiary scholarships. There are also 124 continuing beneficiaries, bringing the total to 274 students at that level.

The governor also announced extra support for 80 Senior Secondary School students who are getting ready for exams and wanting to enter tertiary institutions. These students will receive help with registration for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). They will also get revision sessions through the LEARN MORE WhatsApp platform.

The programme will keep in touch with beneficiaries and their parents to offer guidance and support throughout their education.

Abiodun promised that the initiative would continue and grow to help more needy students get quality education. He described it as a way for the family to honour Gbemiga's legacy of kindness.

The scholarship scheme started in the Remo area but has now expanded to cover all nine local government areas in Ogun East Senatorial District. This change came after the programme's success and positive impact.

The governor highlighted a new vocational education part added in 2025. Beneficiaries in technical colleges received ₦120,000 each to buy important training equipment.

He said some beneficiaries have already started working in their trades, taking paid jobs, and improving their lives. This shows how vocational education can help people become self-reliant and economically empowered.

Abiodun also revealed plans to give 20 selected beneficiaries business training, mentorship, and start-up support of up to ₦250,000 each to encourage them to become entrepreneurs.

In another effort to prepare young people for new job opportunities, Abiodun said 30 selected tertiary students will join a digital skills development programme. This programme will cover areas like digital marketing, software development, data and analytics, cybersecurity, and user interface and user experience (UI/UX) design.

He urged wealthy individuals and organizations to help improve access to education for vulnerable people. He also encouraged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the chances they have and to stay committed to their studies.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, praised the initiative for giving academically strong but financially struggling students a chance to fulfill their educational dreams.

He asked the beneficiaries to stay focused and disciplined. He mentioned that dedication to their studies would help them achieve their goals.

Lamisa Abiodun, sister of the late Gbemiga, congratulated the beneficiaries. She urged those in technical colleges to take their training seriously and use their skills to create meaningful lives.

Representatives from educational institutions and some beneficiaries thanked the governor and his family for the support. They noted that this initiative would help ease the financial burden on parents and guardians while enabling students to continue their education.

In his opening speech, the programme coordinator, Reverend Bola Oyeledun, said the initiative has grown from a family's response to personal loss into a programme that offers hope and relief to students whose families cannot afford quality education.