27th March, 2023
100 students have benefited from the 2023 edition of the scholarship program organized by the Deputy Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly and Senator-elect of Lagos Central, Wasiu Eshilokun.
The students, who are indigenes of Lagos Island, received the scholarship on Friday at an event hosted at Lagos Island Local Government office.
Speaking at the event, Eshilokun said;
“Let me commence this with my heartfelt appreciation to the entire people of Lagos Central for your passionate support and the echo of confidence as reflected in your vote for our dear party, All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded elections. This is not just a renewal of the social contract between the electorate and the elected, but a show of repositioning of trust in us. Let me restate our commitment that we shall not let you down. Asiwaju shall not let you down. Sanwo-Olu shall not let you down. And, WES shall not let you down, both in my primary duties as a lawmaker and my other developmental duties in which we shall even do more.
“In furtherance of not letting you down, may it be noted that today, the 24th day of March 2023, we further our annual steps toward the fulfillment of our convention to our people in our strive to secure and protect our common future by making education affordable to all the qualified students in our communities. Taking from the wisdom in the Chinese proverb that says, if you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people”. It is my belief that aiding the affordable education of eligible students in our communities is the best way of safeguarding the futures of our children and procuring sustainable development in our communities. Our journey to procure the license for the good future of our children through mass education started many years ago, and I am dedicated to doing much more because I understand that education is the enduring life of a society as it disseminates and radiates across generations. From my efforts at the local government on education through the building and rehabilitation of schools and vocational centers; our Free Jamb Form initiative; free school bus services; to this scholarship scheme, amongst others, our aim is to make education not just appealing but also affordable to all our willing children, Let me reiterate, we shall do even more than before.
“This year’s scholarship award is the 11th edition of the scheme where students are meritoriously selected by the panel that is comprised of schools’ principals and leaders of this committee. The criteria as I was informed included indigency, residency, citizenship, discipline, etcetera. The committee has thereby dutifully
ratified the qualified students for this year’s full undergraduate scholarship while some of the students will receive our consolatory prizes. It is my hope and prayer that this set of students will further be found worthy
of the award for subsequent years till they complete their studies as this will signify that they do not fall below the selection standards. This, however, depends on them as further screening will be done to determine
the awardees in the following years. Hence, it is incumbent on this year’s winners to continue to be worthy in learning and character, so they can continue to enjoy the benefits of this scholarship. It is my desire and prayer that God enables me to extend the various education schemes not only by the number of awardees but to cover postgraduate studies in Nigeria and abroad.”
The Senator-elect assured that next year’s edition will cover the whole of Lagos central and not only Lagos Island.
One of the beneficiaries, Aminat Ajose thanked Eshilokun for lifting financial burdens from her parent.
Aminat, a student of Lagos State University said: “I am highly grateful for this financial assistance from the Deputy Speaker and now Senator-elect. This has helped me and my family. It has also helped me to focus more on my education. I am grateful.”
Adelaja Federick, a student of the University of Ibadan said: “I got information about this program on a Lagos Island student WhatsApp platform. I got the form, wrote the exam, and was invited for an interview. Later I got a message that I qualified for the scholarship. I am so grateful because the process was free and fair. I do not know anyone, it was purely based on merit.”
See photos from the events below;
