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UI ASUU Awards N1.1m Scholarships To 11 Indigent Students
Eleven students of the University of Ibadan, Thursday, benefited from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) University of Ibadan Chapter’s indigent student scholarship awards.
The value of the award for the 11 students was put at N1.1million naira, comprising N200, 000 each to two students from the national body of the Union, N100, 000 to five recipients from the University of Ibadan chapter of ASUU while four students received the sum of N50, 000 each donated by Prof. Tajudeen Akanji of the university.
While presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries, the Vice Chairman, University of Ibadan ASUU, Dr. Tayo Ajibade who represented the Chairman of ASUU, Dr. Adefemi Afolabi at the Congress where the awardees received their cheques, disclosed that while 56 indigent students applied, only 11 were found qualified for the scholarship support.
According to Ajibade, the urge to support indigent students was the directive of the national body of the Union to all chapters to support in a little way, children from indigent homes who really need financial support.
He noted that ASUU has been championing improved funding to ensure that qualitative education are not out of the reach of the children of the masses in Nigeria, adding that poverty should not disqualify a Nigerian child from accessing education.
The beneficiaries are Olawale, Esther Inioluwa, a 300-level student of Archaeology and Anthropology in the Faculty of Arts (₦200,000); Orji, Cynthia Adaeze, a 300-level Political Science student in the Faculty of Social Sciences (₦200,000); Dosunmu, Mazeedah Omobonike of Pharmaceutical Sciences (N100, 000); Oyeniyi, Oluwaseyi, a 400-level Pharmacy student; Aanuoluwa, Adeshewa Mary, a 400-level Physiotherapy student (N100, 000); Ameenat Eniola of Department of Economics (N100, 000); and Olowode Afusat Temitayo (N50,000).
The four indigent students who received N50, 000 each financed by Prof. Akanji are Ogundare, Marvellous; Williams, Happiness Patient of the department of Psychology and Oladepo, Peter Olamide of the Department of Microbiology and Gbadegesin, Daniel, a 400 level Banking and Finance student.
Speaking further, the ASUU Vice Chairman stated that “our union has recognized that the best gift that you can give to anyone is education. We are aware of the challenges in our society because we realize that a lot of our students are struggling to survive in school, and we want to find a way to support them in our little way.
“This is why our national body has directed us to do this by supporting brilliant indigent students. We see it that it is our duty to continue to clamour for increased funding and qualitative education. The national awards, the branches’ support, and individual lecturers have also come out to support indigent students, and we would continue to do so”
One of the benefactors, Prof. Akanji stated that as long as he lives, he would continue to support indigent students in his own little way owing to his background as a son of carpenter who rose to the peak of his career and understands the transformative power of education in the lives of students.
Speaking with journalists after receiving her award, Olawale Esther Inioluwa expressed surprise and gratitude, urging other students to take their studies seriously and make academic excellence a priority.
“I was not even expecting it. What I will say to UI students is that they should make sure they take their academics very seriously because the number one thing we came to the university for is academics,” she said.
She thanked ASUU for the recognition and prayed for the minds behind the initiative.
Also speaking, Oladepo Peter Olamide appreciated the national leadership and the University of Ibadan branch of ASUU for introducing the scholarship initiative, describing it as an encouragement for students to work harder.
He urged his colleagues to remain committed to their studies so they could take advantage of similar opportunities when they arise.
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