Taiwo Oyedele has unveiled a far-reaching scholarship initiative aimed at easing the financial burden on public secondary school students in Ondo State, drawing from a personal story that shaped his own educational path.
The fiscal policy expert explained that the scheme is designed to support academic excellence by covering the costs of final examinations for outstanding students who may otherwise struggle to complete their secondary education.
According to Oyedele, the motivation behind the initiative is rooted in his upbringing and the communal support that sustained him during a critical moment in his school years.
“A small intervention at the right time can completely change a person’s future,” he said. “I am living proof that when a community steps in, the impact can last a lifetime.”
He recalled how a N500 scholarship from his village association several decades ago enabled him to register for his final secondary school examinations, a step he described as decisive in shaping his career and public service journey.
Moreover, Oyedele announced that under the new programme, scholarships of up to N500,000 will be awarded to the best graduating final-year student in every public secondary school across the state.
He noted that the support will focus specifically on students graduating during the state’s Golden Jubilee year, adding that the initiative is both a gesture of gratitude and a call to others to invest in education.
“This is about giving today’s students the opportunity I was given,” Oyedele said. “Talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not. We must close that gap.”
The announcement was made during a public lecture held as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the creation of Ondo State in Akure.
Furthermore, participants at the event described the scholarship scheme as timely, noting that it aligns with broader efforts to strengthen public education and promote merit-based support.
Hence, Oyedele’s intervention highlights how individual acts of giving, when scaled, can contribute meaningfully to educational development and social mobility across the state.