APC Chieftain Asalu Marks 10 Years of Scholarships, Says Education Key to Tackling Youth Poverty

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Engr. Ayodele Asalu, has emphasised that education remains the most effective tool for combating poverty among youths, as he celebrated a decade of providing scholarships and examination support to students in Ejigbo Local Government Area.

Speaking at an event held in Ejigbo town on Wednesday, Asalu announced that 1,003 indigent students from various communities within the local government were given free West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms as part of the initiative.

According to him, the programme, which was launched in 2016, was designed to ensure that financial hardship does not prevent students in Ejigbo Local Government and the Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency from accessing key educational opportunities.

“I started this programme so that poverty will not disconnect our children from their future. Today marks a decade of impacting lives and giving our children a chance to dream,” he said.

Asalu noted that the intervention has expanded in the past three years to include tuition support for exceptional students who excel academically but face financial challenges. He explained that the initiative was driven by his desire to assist brilliant students whose academic ambitions are threatened by lack of funds.

He also commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as a timely intervention that supports indigent students and helps sustain their academic aspirations despite economic constraints.

In his remarks, APC apex leader in Ejigbo Local Government, Senator Mudasiru Hussein, praised Asalu for sustaining the scholarship programme for ten years. He urged beneficiaries to remain disciplined, focused, and committed to their studies, stressing that determination and hard work are essential to making the most of the opportunity provided.