Flag-Off: Ondo First Lady Launches OSOPADEC 2023/2024 Scholarship & Bursary Scheme to Empower Oil-Producing Communities’ Students

Ondo State First Lady, Her Excellency Mrs. Oluwaseun Esther Aiyedatiwa, officially inaugurated the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) 2023/2024 Students’ Scholarship and Bursary programme today, Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at OSOPADEC’s headquarters in Akure. This impactful initiative targets indigenous students from the oil-producing Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas, reinforcing the state government’s commitment to enhancing education and youth empowerment in these strategic communities.

The scholarship and bursary scheme represents a sustained effort to provide financial relief and educational support to thousands of students residing in the oil-rich but often underserved regions. This year’s programme notably saw a rapid and efficient approval and disbursement process, with over N286.7 million allocated to approximately 4,837 beneficiaries, as confirmed by OSOPADEC Chairman, Prince Olabiyi Biyi Poroye, whose leadership has been praised for driving key developmental projects and operational reforms within the commission.

In her address, the First Lady emphasized education as a crucial catalyst for both individual growth and societal advancement. She encouraged the beneficiaries to harness this opportunity to excel academically and become agents of transformative change in their communities. Mrs. Aiyedatiwa expressed profound appreciation for the exemplary leadership of Prince Biyi Poroye, highlighting his dedication towards expanding educational programmes and wider community development initiatives including technical education, ICT, and entrepreneurship training.

The OSOPADEC Chairman, a grassroots leader with deep roots in the oil-producing coastal belt, reiterated the commission’s broadened mandate beyond education to include infrastructural upgrades, healthcare improvements, and economic empowerment projects aimed at elevating the quality of life and opportunities for the people in the oil-producing areas. He also appealed for increased funding allocation to ensure more comprehensive and sustained developmental impact.

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This latest disbursement is part of a broader state policy under Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s administration focused on inclusive growth, ensuring that no child or youth is left behind in the pursuit of education and empowerment. The First Lady’s flag-off of this scholarship and bursary payment underscores the administration’s resolve to nurture the next generation of leaders from the oil-producing communities.

By investing in education as a tool for social equity and economic progress, the Ondo State government continues to set a standard for government-community partnerships fostering hope and transformation in the oil-producing zones of the state.