ASUU awards ₦1.1m scholarships to UI students

No fewer than 11 indigent students of the University of Ibadan (UI) have received scholarships totalling N1.1m from the institution’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-UI).

The scholarships were presented last Thursday during an emergency congress of the union, following a screening exercise conducted by a committee.

The awards comprised two scholarships of ₦200,000 each under the national ASUU scholarship scheme, five awards of ₦100,000 each funded by the university branch and four awards of ₦50,000 each sponsored by Professor Tajudeen Akanbi.

The union said 56 students applied for the scholarships, describing the initiative as part of its commitment to the welfare of members of the university community, in line with its constitution.

Olawale Esther Enioluwa, a 300-level student of Archaeology and Anthropology in the Faculty of Arts, emerged as the highest-ranked applicant and received ₦200,000.

Another beneficiary of the national scholarship scheme, Orji Cynthia Adaeze, a 300-level Political Science student in the Faculty of Social Sciences, also received ₦200,000.

Recipients of the branch-funded awards included Dosunmu Mazeedah of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Oyeniyi Oluwaseyi, a 400-level Pharmacy student; Aanuoluwa Adeshewa Mary, a 400-level Physiotherapy student; Jumat Aminat Eniola of Economics; and Olowode Hamzat Temitayo. Each received ₦100,000.

The four awards sponsored by Akanbi were presented to Ogundare Marvelous, Williams Happiness, Oladepo Peter Olamide and another beneficiary.

ASUU said the initiative reflected its broader commitment to supporting financially disadvantaged students with strong academic records, adding that branches and individual members of the union across the country provide similar assistance annually.

The union encouraged the beneficiaries to maintain their relationship with it and seek support whenever they encountered challenges requiring intervention.

Speaking during the presentation of his sponsored awards, Akanbi said he intended to sustain the initiative throughout his years of service.

He recalled his humble beginnings, noting that his father worked as a carpenter while his mother made sacrifices to finance his education.

He said the experience had strengthened his resolve to assist students facing financial difficulties in pursuing their academic ambitions.

ASUU-UI also encouraged its members to emulate Akanbi by sponsoring students in need.

Speaking with journalists after receiving the award, Enioluwa expressed surprise and gratitude, urging students to take their academic work seriously.

“I was not even expecting it. What I will say to UI students is that they should make sure they take their academics very seriously because the number one thing we came to the university for is academics,” she said.

She thanked ASUU for the recognition and expressed hope that the union would continue to prosper.