The Muyiwa Igbalajobi Foundation has awarded $15,000 in cash prizes and mentorship to students of Ekiti origin at the Ekiti maiden scholarship summit.
The two-day event, organised virtually by the Muyiwa Igbalajobi Foundation, is targeted at providing invaluable insights into scholarships, career pathways and mentorship opportunities for students across Ekiti State and beyond.
Speaking on the event themed: ‘Scholarships, Innovation and the Future of Ekiti Youths,’ the Convener, Muyiwa Igbalajobi, said the summit is aimed at guiding and supporting students in achieving their academic dreams.
He emphasised that the summit, which is to honour the legacy of his late father, Professor Caleb Igbalajobi, a former chairman of the Ekiti State Education Trust Fund serves as a platform to create opportunities, build connections, and transform their academic future.
He stressed that twenty speakers were carefully selected from around the globe to mentor and inspire the participants aimed at mentoring and supporting youths across the state’s 16 local government areas.
The Convener expressed appreciation to the state government for its sustained investment in education, describing himself as a beneficiary of Ekiti’s scholarship scheme.
In his keynote address, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, commended the Convener for extending support to youth in Ekiti State while appealing to well-meaning Ekiti indigenes and Nigerians to borrow a leaf from the foundation.
Oyebanji, represented by the State Commissioner for Education, Olabimpe Aderiye, noted that his administration’s investment in education is a testament of his commitment to human capital development and inclusive education.
According to him, “I congratulate Dr Muyiwa Igbalajobi for putting together this life-changing program, especially for inviting good people from all walks of life to share in tis laudable endeavour.
“If you all are committed to sponsoring scholarships, the world will be a better place for everyone. I appeal to us all to design strategies on how we can support our youths to positively channel their energy for good outcomes.”
The governor explained that the money expended on the bursary, is part of the deliberate efforts to expand access to education and empower young people across the state.
He reiterated that the scholarship disbursements, which cut across undergraduate, postgraduate, law students and students with disabilities, have benefited thousands of Ekiti indigenes within the period.
The governor also explained that the state had reviewed and increased scholarship rates to reflect current economic realities and ensure better support for beneficiaries.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Ekiti State Scholarship Board, Bukola Faluyi, said the board had fully digitalised its scholarship and bursary processes to promote transparency, efficiency and equal access for all eligible Ekiti students, explaining that the reforms were designed to eliminate human interference and ensure that awards are strictly merit-based.
On his part, Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Joseph Ayodele, commended Governor Oyebanji and the Commissioner for Education for prioritising education.
He equally hailed Igbalajobi’s initiative, describing it as a necessity for the fulfilment of Governor Oyebanji’s shared prosperity agenda.
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