Rotary International District 9111, through its District Educational and Welfare Endowment Fund (DEWEF), is set to distribute N10.2 million in bursary funds to 51 underprivileged undergraduates from universities and polytechnics in Ogun and Lagos states. The scholarship cheque presentation ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Rotary Centre in Ikeja GRA, Lagos, presided over by District 9111 Governor Prince Henry Akinyele.
Details of the Scholarship
Each of the 51 students will receive N200,000 to cover school fees, feeding allowance, and textbooks for one academic session. Past District Governor and Chairman of the DEWEF Board of Trustees, Oluwanisomo Omoniyi, speaking on behalf of Governor Akinyele, stated that the funds are intended to defray academic expenses. He emphasized that to maintain the scholarship, students must achieve a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) above 3.0 and are encouraged to join Rotaract Clubs on their campuses to foster a spirit of charitable giving.
Selection Process
Chairman of the DEWEF Scholarship Committee, Sulemon Adekunle Mufutau, explained the rigorous selection process. Requests for brilliant but indigent students in HND 1 and 200-level university courses were sent to over 84 clubs in District 9111, yielding 62 candidates. After screening, 30 candidates took a computer-based aptitude test conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), with 15 passing. These 15 underwent oral interviews, resulting in eight new scholarship recipients. These eight join 43 continuing scholars, bringing the total to 51 for the 2026 award year. Mufutau noted that aside from academic qualifications, indigeneity was verified to ensure funds go to truly deserving students.
History of DEWEF
The DEWEF Fund was established by District 9110 (now Districts 9111 and 9112) during the 1991-92 Rotary year to support needy students in tertiary institutions and bolster educational intervention efforts. The scholarship amount was increased from N100,000 to N200,000 last year to align with current economic realities. The primary goal of the Rotary District 9111 DEWEF scholarship is to assist bright but impoverished students in Lagos and Ogun states in funding their education and welfare.
