The Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde has again renewed his pledge on the payment of bursaries to indigent students in the state.
Makinde, who made this assertion on Monday, stated that his administration will not stop the payment of bursaries and award of scholarships to indigent students in the state, adding that his government will continue to have constant engagements with the Students’ Union bodies across the state to ensure stability in the sector.
Governor Makinde made the declarations while speaking at the 2022 International Students’ Day programme with the theme “Change Makers”, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa quoted the governor as stating that his administration’s scholarship and bursary awards were designed to encourage indigent students in the pursuit of academic excellence.
He expressed optimism that the present administration will not rest on its oars in ensuring that Oyo State students get their share of the dividends of democracy as and when due.
He added that every tertiary institution in the state has benefitted in one way or the other from the programmes and policies of his administration.
The statement also quoted the governor as saying that his administration will continue to prioritise education as the foundation upon which sustainable development will be built.
The governor described the students as a critical part of the state’s population that cannot be ignored by any serious government that is committed to human development.
He told the students that before the end of the year, buses will be given to all Students’ Union bodies and indigenous associations in the tertiary institutions across the state.
He stated that his administration is always ready to engage the students and other relevant stakeholders.
He further reeled out his administration’s achievements in tertiary institutions in the state as sole ownership of LAUTECH and a 15% reduction in tuition fee of the institution, accreditation of over 30 courses at The Polytechnic Ibadan, by NBTE, among others.
Governor Makinde equally charged the students to get their Permanent Voters’ Cards and vote for candidates who will defend their welfare.
Earlier, in their various remarks, the Special Assistant to Governor Makinde on Student Affairs, Victor Olojede, and the Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Oyo State Chapter, Adeleke Abdu-Quadri, appreciated Governor ‘Seyi Makinde for being a student-friendly governor, declaring that the students in the state would pay back his magnanimity by voting massively for him in the next general election.
In the meantime, while delivering a lecture on change makers’ mindset, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, University of Ibadan, Professor Olanikẹ Adeyemo, identified self-actualisation, passion, motivation, commitment, and creativity as tools of change making and urged the participants not to be discouraged by the happenings in their environment but rather seek to proffer solutions to emerging problems.