The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has offered scholarship to four indigent but brilliant students of the institution.
The Chairperson of the branch, Prof Anthony Odiwe, in his opening remark at the programme held recently on the campus, explained that ASUU instituted the annual scholarship scheme in 2018 for indigent students in all branches of the union and it has continued till date inspite of the challenges being faced by the lecturers.
Odiwe noted that the award is a demonstration of the union’s support to Nigerian students’ tertiary education in the face of problems bedeviling university educational system including but not limited to poor funding, lack of infrastructures and facilities needed for quality education.
He said that 44 indigent students applied for the two-scholarship space of the national body of N200,000 each in OAU.
In addition to the support from the national body, the branch also awarded a sum of N50,000 each to two other students that applied and were ranked 3rd and 4th in position, in order to assist them in their education.
The students are Mutiyal Abike Olayiwola (CGPA-4.61), a part 3 student of the Department of Microbiology; Pelumi Ayomide Adeoye (CGPA-4.28), a Part 2 student of Public Administration; Jesutowo Ademola (CGPA-3.27), a part 2 undergraduate of Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering and Elijah Adelowo (CGPA-3.27), a part 2 student of Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering.
The OAU ASUU boss implored government to pay more attention to the funding of tertiary education, improve conditions of service especially on the issue of remuneration.
He said the Union would continue to press home the need for government to do the needful in order to reposition the nation’s universities to be able to compete favourably.
The Chairman also used the medium to renew the call for the Federal Government to release their eight months withheld salaries of 2022 in the interest of justice, fair play and smooth running of the system.
The awardees who spoke one after the other thanked ASUU national body and OAU branch for the support and promised to make proper use of the money.
They said the money would be very useful in addressing some of their financial needs.
Present at the event are Prof. Bola Mapayi, the Welfare Secretary of the branch, Vice-Chairperson, Prof. Olomola who was the Convener of the Committee that selected the students, Secretary of the Union, Dr. Tunde Amusan, Dr. wale Adebayo (Financial Secretary); Prof. Saka Gbadamosi (Investment Officer), Dr. Omoneye Olasanmi (a member of the Committee) and other committed members of the branch, such as Profs. Saheed Adekilekun and Femi Ajayi.
