*Flagged off special scholarship for inclusion
By Mark Mayah
The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Scholarship Board (LSSB), Mrs Rasidat Daranijo, has emphasized Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Commitment to revitalizing educationin the state through the student loan programme designed to reduce unproductivity and unhappiness amongs Lagosians and residents.
Speaking at the special flag- off of the special scholarship inclusion awards in tertiary institutions in Lagos state at the weekend, Daranijo stated that the initiative is targeted at Lagos residents enrolled in tertiary institutions within the state who are persons with disabilities ( PWDs )as well as students from poor and vulnerable backgrounds.
In her words: “the scholarship board through the magnanimity of Mr. Governor is including two categories of people. They are the people living with disabilities and the people that are categorized as the multidimensionally poor and vulnerable.
“Since the inception of the Lagos state scholarship board, the board has been known to provide bursaries and scholarships to indigents students of the state and they have their story to tell about the interviews as they come to register for the scholarship scheme.
However, she explained that, “today is the beginning of a journey that takes us to another realm of our scholarship administration of the scholarship board and it’s just in tandem with the second administration of Mr Babaji Sanwo-Olu
which dictates that no pone should be left behind to show and demonstrate the commitment of the state to the importance of education.”
The ES assured all stakeholders of the state government unwavering commitment to supporting Lagos scholars as the LSSB is working diligently to meet all obligations as required by our legal status .
Turning to the recipients, she said: “Today’s event is different from the normal scholarships we give. This is because you don’t have to be from Lagos State to benefit from either of these categories for scholarships.
“Our role at the state
scholarship board is to support the students to be able to partake in the educational journey so that no one is left behind.
” For the people living with disabilities, it’s just another way of saying that we recognize the resilience that you put up in achieving what other people do normally.
“And so the board is extending its awards to you so that you’re able to go through the educational journey with just the support from your government, Mrs Daranijo stated.
In his goodwill address, the state commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hon. Tolani Sule, decried the low patronage by Lagos state indigene in accessing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund ( NELFUND)
He therefore, urged students of Lagos state across various tertiary institutions to take full ownership of the interest- free education loan scheme.
Hon Sule reaffirmed the ministry the ministry of tertiary education commitment to eliminating financial barriers and creating opportunities for Lagos students to thrive, regardless of their background.
He therefore called on students to collaborate with NELFUND to maximize the positive impact of the scheme.
He urged the media to help in raising awareness, refine the process, and ensure that the scheme reaches every students it was designed to serve,” he said.
Speaking further, the commissioner noted that NELFUND initiative aligns strongly with president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusion, empowerment and a renewed national commitment to education.
Sule, who described the special scholarship for inclusion as a “Mission to make learning very comfortable, very attractive to the citizens of Lagos state, said “the most unfortunate thing is that our citizens, our students are not really keen into NELFUND well enough. The figure, the number that are applying for this loan is still very low.
“So I want to beg, I want to plead, I want to suggest to all citizens of Lagos to key into the federal government loan scheme. It will relieve parents, it will make life more abundant, learning more easily and abundant for the students.
“So let us advocate more to our people for them to apply so that students who are collecting from Lagos state, are equally getting financial support from the federal government, the commissioner pleaded.
Hon Sule however stated that the special scholarship for inclusion would be a yearly award like other normal scholarship and bursary award
No fewer than 250 undergraduates received a sum of N225,000.00 each at the occasion.
