Hon. Oluwole Oke, lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, has again intensified his push for stronger technical and vocational education with the enrolment of 420 additional students into his long-running scholarship scheme across Osun State.

The beneficiaries, drawn from the nine Government Technical Colleges in the state, include mostly fresh Year 1 students, with Year 2 entrants in eight colleges and Year 1 to Year 3 students in the Ijebu-Jesa Technical College.

The programme, which began five years ago as a pilot project in Ijebu-Jesa, has since grown into one of the most far-reaching privately funded technical education interventions in Osun. It has so far sponsored about 1,500 students without any government allocation, with Hon. Oke reportedly committing roughly ₦15 million per term and about ₦40 million each academic session.

According to the Public and Media Communication Unit of the Ijesa North Federal Constituency Office, Oke has continued to single-handedly pay school fees, enrolment charges, lesson fees and other sundry costs for beneficiaries as part of his deliberate effort to address unemployment, underemployment and skills deficiency among youths.

Observers say the impact of the scheme has drawn attention from individuals and government stakeholders across the state, with some studying its model for possible adoption.

In what appears to be an endorsement of Oke’s foresight, the Federal Government recently announced free tuition for students in all Federal Technical Colleges nationwide—a move seen by supporters as aligning with the lawmaker’s long-standing advocacy for accessible vocational training.

Many graduates of the scheme have reportedly advanced to higher institutions, funding their studies with income from skills acquired during their technical training. Others are said to have launched small businesses, becoming self-reliant.

The statement urged students across Osun to take note of the sustained investments being made in their future, describing the gesture as one driven by genuine concern and a long-term vision for youth empowerment.