In a bid to reduce the financial strain on students hailing from Ondo State, the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) has begun clearing outstanding bursary and scholarship arrears for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Princess Abike Bayo-Ilawole, the Secretary of OSOPADEC, confirmed that ₦320 million has been distributed to undergraduate students from the Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas. She highlighted that this move is in accordance with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s directive to prioritize student welfare in the state. “All pending bursary and scholarship arrears for students across various tertiary institutions nationwide have now been settled,” she affirmed.
Speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony held at the Commission’s headquarters in Oba-Ile, Bayo-Ilawole also announced the disbursement of an additional ₦53 million to 343 postgraduate students pursuing PGD, MSc, and PhD degrees. Each undergraduate beneficiary received ₦50,000, while postgraduate students were awarded ₦150,000 each.
The Secretary stressed the importance of a meticulous verification process to ensure that only genuine students benefit, effectively preventing the allocation of funds to non-existent individuals.
“To date, OSOPADEC has disbursed a total of ₦373 million to support 5,928 students,” she reported.
Bayo-Ilawole lauded Governor Aiyedatiwa for his prompt intervention and dedication to improving educational opportunities for students from the state’s oil-producing regions. “His leadership in this regard is highly commendable,” she remarked.
In response, Taiwo Olajide Samuel, a postgraduate student at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, expressed his gratitude to the Governor for his unwavering support of their educational pursuits. He also appreciated the Secretary’s efforts in sustaining the initiative, saying, “These bursary payments will inspire students to strive for greater academic achievements.”
Lois Udoye 
