By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the sum of N350 Million for the payment of the 2025 scholarship and bursary awards to students of Ondo State origin in higher institutions across the country.
The approval, announced on Tuesday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, covers five categories of scholarship, including support for medical students, law students, and students with disabilities.
According to Adeniyan, this year’s allocation is an increase from 2024, when N335 million was disbursed to 11,200 students. The new approval is expected to benefit about 12,000 students.
Governor Aiyedatiwa had earlier raised the annual bursary from N10,000 to N20,000 per student, while students with disabilities now receive N75,000 each, and scholarship beneficiaries get N100,000 each.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to education, Aiyedatiwa described it as “the cornerstone of development” and a key driver of youth empowerment.
“Many of our students face significant financial challenges in pursuing their academic dreams,” the Governor said. “That is why we have these bursary and scholarship awards, as well as financial assistance, to alleviate financial burdens and enable our students to focus on their studies. These awards are a testament to our commitment to investing in the future of our State and our country.”
The announcement comes two weeks after the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) began payment of the 2023/2024 scholarship and bursary scheme, which is benefiting 4,837 indigent students from its mandate areas.