In a significant boost to technical education in Osun State, Hon. Busayo Oluwole Oke, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, has expanded his flagship scholarship program by enrolling 420 additional students across the state's nine Government Technical Colleges.
Major Expansion of Technical Education Initiative
The lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency announced that this fresh intake represents another substantial leap for the five-year-old program. The initiative began modestly at Ijebu-Jesa Government Technical College before expanding statewide two years ago, demonstrating consistent growth and commitment to technical skills development.
According to Oke, the new beneficiaries primarily consist of Year 1 students, with Year 2 entrants distributed across eight technical colleges. The Ijebu-Jesa center, being the original pilot location, received students spanning from Year 1 to Year 3, reflecting the program's maturation over time.
Financial Commitment and Program Impact
The expanded scholarship scheme now supports approximately 1,500 students statewide, with the lawmaker committing roughly ₦15 million per term—equivalent to about ₦40 million per academic session. This substantial investment covers tuition fees, enrollment charges, lesson fees, and other related educational costs for all beneficiaries.
Oke emphasized that the program was specifically designed to address Nigeria's widening technical skills gap while providing young people with practical, employable abilities. "Technical and vocational education remains one of the most reliable pathways to empowering young people," he stated. "By equipping them with practical training and creativity-driven skills, we are building a new generation of self-reliant Nigerians."
The program's success is evident in its outcomes, with many alumni now pursuing higher education or running successful small businesses built on the competencies they gained through the technical training.
Alignment with National Education Goals
The scholarship expansion coincides with the Federal Government's rollout of free tuition in all Federal Technical Colleges—a policy that Oke has consistently championed as part of national workforce development efforts. Education administrators across Osun's technical colleges report that the lawmaker's intervention has significantly boosted enrollment numbers, improved student retention rates, and increased overall enthusiasm for vocational learning.
As the new batch of beneficiaries begins their academic journey, Oke urged students to maximize this opportunity, describing the scheme as an investment in creating "a better, brighter and more empowered generation."
Stakeholders in the education sector acknowledge that the initiative has become a model for community-driven support in technical education, attracting interest from both public and private actors exploring ways to replicate its successful structure across Nigeria.
Related Education News: UNIMED Inducts Pioneer Food Scientists
In other educational developments, the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) in Ondo State has inducted its first set of food scientists, urging them to prioritize advocacy for healthy diets and community health improvement.
During the induction ceremony held at the Main Auditorium, Odosida Campus, Professor Abiodun Adeola of Food Technology emphasized that many prevailing health issues could be mitigated through better dietary choices. Represented by Associate Professor Dare Adekoyemi, Adeola highlighted that numerous beneficial foods remain underutilized and are gradually facing extinction.
The food technology expert detailed the multifaceted benefits of integrating functional foods into community diets, noting that such foods promote more resilient food systems, improve public health outcomes, lower chronic disease risks, and enhance gut health and immune function.
Speaking on the topic "Impacting Communities through Functional Foods: A Pathway to Sustainable Development," Adeola urged the six new inductees to educate the public about the health benefits of functional foods, maintaining that a healthy diet is fundamentally linked to good health outcomes across communities.
