Kwara Launches Education Scholarship Model

 

Kwara Launches Education Scholarship Model

 

 

 

Twelve brilliant pupils from public schools in Kwara State have become the first beneficiaries of full scholarships from the Kwara State Education Trust Fund (Kwara-ETF), a landmark development Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described as the fulfilment of a personal and collective dream.

 

The award, which covers all expenses for their secondary school education, was the outcome of a rigorous selection process that began with 640 candidates, according to officials of the Fund.

 

Speaking at the orientation for the beneficiaries, AbdulRazaq stressed that funding education should not be left to the government alone, urging wealthy individuals, foundations, and community groups to support initiatives that promote excellence.

 

“Education belongs to all of us. It is our business. But we have seen over the years that governments alone cannot fully fund education. What you have seen here today is a module where some students were selected through a very rigorous and transparent process to benefit from scholarship,” the governor said.

 

He praised the beneficiaries, most of whom are from modest backgrounds, noting that the transparent selection process would be sustained and the pupils tracked beyond secondary education. “I am truly excited that these pupils are from humble backgrounds. They did not cut corners to make the list. They were chosen through a transparent process. This is just the beginning. We will keep tracking them to the university level,” he added.

 

Executive Secretary of the Fund, Oluwadamilola Amolegbe, explained that the pupils were drawn from across the state’s local government areas after excelling in digital literacy programmes, National Common Entrance Examination, and other assessments.

 

Programme Manager, Zainab Abdulsalam, assured that the ETF would monitor the progress of the awardees to ensure the investments translate into tangible results for the state.

 

Parents of the beneficiaries also expressed gratitude to the government. Maxwell Kolawole, from Ekiti Local Government, said the initiative had eased the financial burden of school fees and commended the transparency of the process.

 

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, in a statement yesterday, described the scholarship as “a pro-masses initiative that demonstrates the administration’s resolve to give every child a fair chance at quality education.”

 

The Kwara State Education Trust Fund was established in 2021 through legislation and is managed by trustees largely drawn from the private sector and community stakeholders.