On Monday, the Ondo government in Akure disbursed N335 million as a bursary, scholarship, and financial assistance to 11,220 students of state origin.

At the event, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa reiterated his administration’s recognition of education as the cornerstone of development.

Mr Aiyedatiwa said it was noteworthy that his administration had made several interventions through various policies and programmes to improve the quality of education in Ondo.

The governor said the award was not just a financial support to the students but also a vote of confidence in their abilities to ensure that they got results.

Mr Aiyedatiwa, who commended the parents and guardians of the beneficiaries for their support and sacrifices in nurturing their wards, also acknowledged their invaluable roles in the children’s academic journey.

The governor reeled out some of his administration’s achievements, such as regular payments of West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) registration fees for all students in public secondary schools across the state.

According to him, other achievements include the reconstruction and renovation of public primary and secondary schools and the recruitment and regular training of teachers with regular salary payments.

“For us, we are passionately committed to making sure that our children and young people are given the best opportunity to develop themselves through our various interventionist programmes in the education sector.

“We believe in the talents and potential of our young people and we owe them a duty to nurture and empower them to become future leaders and change-makers in our society.

“I also extend this call to action to the academic community generally to continue to provide environment conducive to learning and support services that will enable our students to thrive and excel,” he said.

Earlier, the education commissioner, Olaolu Akindolire, said it was the government’s responsibility to support students, as their achievements within and outside the country had been a source of pride for Ondo.

While expressing gratitude to the governor for his dedication and unwavering commitment to welfare of students, Mr Akindolire said, “Education is crucial for building a brighter future for the state.”

The administrative secretary of the Ministry of Education, Ademola Kolawole, said that investing in education would bring significant benefits to both the Ondo government and the nation at large.

The president of the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS), Oyelade Ahmed, thanked the governor for prioritising education in the state.

Mr Ahmed noted that the initiative would alleviate the financial burden on many families.

He said the association had confidence in the governor’s leadership.

(NAN)