The Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) on Tuesday disbursed N286.7 million to 4,873 students from the oil-producing areas of the state.

The wife of the state governor, Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, during the disbursement, said the scheme was the 2023/2024 Scholarship and Bursary Award to indigenous students of the Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas of Ondo.

Mrs Aiyedatiwa said that the gesture was an incentive programme dedicated to empowering future leaders in the state.

She stated that over 5,000 students benefited from the scheme in 2022/2023, saying that the scheme had impacted many students in their academic pursuits.

The governor’s wife stated that the gesture was part of Mr Aiyedatiwa’s renewed demonstration of collective resolve and readiness to build a brighter future for children and youths in the state.

“It reflects this administration’s commitment to ensure that no child is left behind in the pursuit of education, thereby fostering a society where every individual can reach their full potential,” she said.

She commended the governor for his visionary leadership and people-centred governance.

“Since assuming office, the governor has placed the welfare of the people as the focus of his administration through the ‘OUR EASE’ policy thrust,” she said.

She stated that the administration had taken bold and transformative steps in education, infrastructure, healthcare development, economic empowerment and security.

She said, “The governor’s vision continues to inspire us all to redouble our efforts in uplifting our communities and empowering our youth.’’

She asked the beneficiaries to make use of the award, adding that they should also be good ambassadors of the state in their respective endeavours.

Also, the Chairman of OSOPADEC, Olabiyi Poroye, said the 2023/2024 cycle of scholarship and award was the fastest approval and release done by any governor since the inception of the scheme.

Mr Poroye added that there was firm assurance that the 2024/2025 scheme would equally be paid soon without delay.

He stated that the gesture was a clear demonstration of the commission’s commitment to empowering young people to pursue their dreams without fear of financial burden.

Mr Poroye also expressed the commission’s dedication to the renovation and rebuilding of schools, the provision of textbooks and furniture and the training of teachers.

He added that the mandate of the commission extends beyond educational development and cuts across human development for the benefits of the mandate areas.

According to him, OSOPADEC has been redesigned to impact people of the mandate areas in infrastructure, tackling their welfare through different economic programmes.

Mr Poroye appreciated the governor who had strengthened and administratively repositioned the commission to deliver on its mandate.

The OSOPADEC chairman pleaded with the state government to increase the commission’s allocation from 40 per cent to 55 per cent out of the 13 per cent oil derivation fund.

(NAN)