The Vice- Chancellor, Osun State University, Osogbo (UNIOSUN), Prof. Odunayo Clement Adebooye, has called on the well-to-do Nigerians to always support indigent and brilliant students in tertiary institutions, just as he charged stakeholders to join hands in assisting Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Prof Adebooye said there are thousands of students who are exceptionally diligent but very unfortunately indigent.
The Vice Chancellor made the call while speaking at the official presentation of cheques to the students beneficiaries of Osogbo Progressive Union, Texas’s 2024 Scholarship Award and Pioneer Undergraduate students Research Support Grantees held on Thursday, at the Institution’s multipurpose Hall, Osogbo.
New Telegraph reports that the university presented research grant of N500,000 to seven final year undergraduate students while the second research grant was awarded to Oluwafisoye Peace Oluwapelumi, a student of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, who intends to develop a Locally fabricated programmable voltage-current loop calibrator system.
Also, Osun Development Forum (ODF) Texas, USA offered a scholarship scheme to sixteen brilliant and less-privileged students from Osun State.
The scholarships are typically valued at N100,000 each and are part of the forum’s efforts to give back to their community by enhancing educational opportunities.
Speaking, UNIOSUN VC who appreciated the gesture charged the beneficiaries to ensure that their studies do not suffer, saying they should cultivate the spirit of giving back to the society through philanthropic gestures.
Prof Adebooye said: “I want to appreciate the gesture and profound support of Osun Development Forum to this University and the up-coming generation of Nigerians.
This kind of interventions is what we need across Nigeria’s higher education sector.
“There are thousands of students who are exceptionally diligent but very unfortunately indigent. Such students need helpers from us as individuals, associations and organisations.
“I want to seize this golden opportunity to thank all members of the Forum, as I invite more associations, organisations and well-spirited individuals to do more for our students.
“And to the beneficiaries of today, to whom much is given, so much is expected. You must ensure that your studies do not suffer; and that you continue to put in your best to justify the support you get today.
“You must set an academic and career targets for yourselves; and you must start cultivating the spirit of giving back to the society through such philanthropic gestures as this when you eventually become gainfully employed and economically independent.
Explaining motive behind the gesture, the President of ODF, Texas, Kazeem Adetunji, said “We have done a lot of things by providing basic social amenities both to the society and even bought equipments for hospitals.
“This scholarship is part of our commitment to the development of education especially at the publication institutions. We are giving 16 students this year.”