As part of efforts at moulding sound minds and ensuring there are no hindrances to their education, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan and Ladoke Akintola University chapters have awarded scholarships to indigent but brilliant students.
The scholarship awards which were given based on indigency and brilliance, had six from the premier university and seven students from LAUTECH.
In UI, the award has two categories (ASUU National Award and ASUU UI branch Award), while two of the beneficiaries won N200,000 each for the national category, the remaining four got N100,000 each for the branch award.
Beneficiaries of the 2023 award included a 200-level student of the Department of Medicine and Surgery, Ilori Ayomide; Busari Temitayo, Department of Microbiology, and a 400-level student of the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Osiga Ibrahim.
Others were Folorunsho Anuoluwa, Department of Medicine and Surgery; Ekop Uko, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Adesina Adebare, Department of Archeology and Anthropology at the University of Ibadan.
Chairman, UI chapter of ASUU, Ayo Akinwole, a professor, speaking after presenting the award to the beneficiaries, said the union has been giving yearly scholarships since 2018 to brilliant but indigent students to ensure that they are supported to finish their education and contribute to national and international development.
According to him, the beneficiaries were chosen following approval by the evaluation committee of the union, which comprised ASUU members across faculties in the institution.
While saying that the beneficiaries were chosen on merit, he stated that despite the challenges facing the union, yet, in its own little way contributes to the education of indigent students in the institution.
The cheques were presented in the presence of the Ibadan Zonal Chairman of the Union, Oyebamiji Oyegoke,a Professor who admonished members to continue to fight for quality public education and stand to be counted in making Nigeria work for her people.
On whether beneficiaries of this year would continue to benefit, Akinwole said the yearly award is a one-off so as to give other students the opportunity to benefit from it.
Busari Temitayo, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, commended the gesture of the union, saying it would go a long way in relieving them of their financial burdens.
However, at LAUTECH, the beneficiaries included Akerele Ifeoluwa David, (N200,000), Food Science; Jokotola, Funmilola Adeloyin, (N200,000), Medicine; Akanbi kehinde Y., (N100,000), Computer Engineering; Abdulkabir Islamiyat Adenike, (N100,000), Agric economics; Olorode Christianah Oluwatoyin, (N100,000), Agric economics; Abideen Fathia Ajoke, (N100,000), Biochemistry; and Oladeebo Nurat Oyindamola, (N100,000), PA Chemistry.
The chapter chairman, Babatunde Akeem Lawal said: “Poverty should not deny brilliant students the opportunity to access and pursue their education.
“For us in the union, we fight for qualitative public education so that the children of the poor will not be blocked from becoming future leaders and great thinkers of the society.”
Speaking at the award ceremony, he said the union remained committed to encouraging brilliant students to become better persons in society by supporting their education.
According to him, ASUU will continue to champion the course of qualitative public education and at the same time pursue the important welfare issues for its members
As the screening of the applicants for the scholarship was coordinated by Teleem Asafa, a Professor, Lawal noted that while the Union takes their students seriously, it will continue to spend from her meagre resources on improving the life chances of brilliant but indigent students.
The elated beneficiaries thanked the union for supporting their education, promising that they would continue to work to make the best of the opportunity granted them.
