Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved N400 million for the 2026 bursary, scholarship and financial assistance programme benefiting 13,360 students of Ondo State origin studying in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The programme was formally flagged off on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at the Cocoa Conference Centre, Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, as the state government seeks to provide financial support to students facing the cost of tertiary education.
The beneficiaries are drawn from five categories: 11,907 bursary recipients, 614 scholarship beneficiaries, 239 Nigerian Law School students, 500 medical students undergoing clinical training and 100 physically challenged students.
Breakdown of the Financial Assistance
According to details released by the Ondo State Scholarship Board, students selected for scholarships will receive N100,000 each.
The scholarship is available to students with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.0 on a five-point grading system or 3.0 on a four-point system.
Bursary beneficiaries will receive N20,000 each, while students at the Nigerian Law School and medical students undergoing clinical training will receive N100,000 each.
Students living with disabilities are expected to receive N75,000 each under the financial assistance component of the programme.
The distribution is designed to cover students at different stages of tertiary education, including undergraduates receiving general bursary support and students in professional programmes requiring additional financial commitments.
Aiyedatiwa Links Programme to Education Policy
Speaking at the launch, Governor Aiyedatiwa described education as a strategic investment in the future of Ondo State and linked the intervention to his administration’s “OUR EASE” development agenda.
The governor said financial difficulties should not prevent deserving students from continuing their education.
The programme therefore forms part of a wider set of education-related measures being pursued by the state government, according to reports from the launch.
The government has also highlighted plans and programmes covering basic, secondary and tertiary education.
Among them is a Digital Literacy Programme through which tablets are to be distributed to students in 50 public schools. The state has also included the construction or rehabilitation of 500 basic schools in its 2026 Budget of Economic Consolidation, according to the governor’s remarks reported by Vanguard and other Nigerian media.
Digital Registry Planned for Ondo Students
Beyond the immediate financial assistance, the state government is considering the creation of a digital registry for Ondo State students studying in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Samad Orijeminiyi, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Scholarship, said the proposed platform would help the government maintain reliable information on students and improve the administration and verification of scholarship beneficiaries.
The registry could also provide data to guide education planning and potentially help private organisations identify opportunities to support students through corporate social responsibility programmes.
The initiative reflects a broader move towards using digital records to improve the management of education interventions, although the reports reviewed did not indicate that the proposed application had already been fully deployed.
Other Education Measures
The bursary and scholarship programme comes alongside other education-related initiatives announced by the state government.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, said the government had released N633.918 million for the payment of 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination registration fees for students in public secondary schools.
The government has also announced plans to establish a College of Nursing in Igbokoda and a College of Education in Aboto.
Another proposed tertiary education reform involves efforts to transform Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, into the proposed University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Owo.
These measures indicate that the 2026 student assistance programme is being implemented alongside broader plans covering school infrastructure, digital education and tertiary institutions.
Student Representatives Welcome Intervention
Representing the beneficiaries at the launch, the Global President of the National Association of Ondo State Students, Temitope Alade, commended the state government for its education interventions and support for students.
Other officials reported to have attended the ceremony included Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami, Secretary to the State Government Taiwo Fasoranti, Chief of Staff Segun Omojuwa, Head of Service Segun Odusanya and members of the state executive council.
Why the Programme Matters
The N400 million intervention comes at a time when the cost of tertiary education in Nigeria extends beyond tuition to accommodation, transportation, learning materials, professional training and other living expenses.
For the 13,360 beneficiaries, the different categories of assistance provide targeted financial support according to their educational circumstances.
The programme also places emphasis on students in professional fields such as medicine and law, while providing a separate category for students with disabilities.
However, the long-term effect of such interventions will depend not only on the size of the allocation but also on transparent identification of beneficiaries, timely disbursement and effective monitoring of the programme.
The proposed digital student registry could become part of that process if implemented as announced.
What Happens Next
The 2026 bursary, scholarship and financial assistance programme has now been formally launched, with the state government expected to proceed with implementation for the listed categories of beneficiaries.
The Ondo State Scholarship Board will remain central to the administration of the scheme, including the identification and processing of eligible students.
The government is also expected to continue work on the wider education initiatives announced alongside the programme, including the digital literacy project, school construction and rehabilitation, proposed specialised colleges and the planned tertiary education reforms.
For students and their families, the immediate focus will be on the delivery of the approved assistance and ensuring that eligible beneficiaries receive the support attached to their respective categories.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Ondo State Government education programme statements and officials’ remarks as reported at the September 22, 2026 launch.
- Vanguard
- Nigerian Tribune
- TheNiche
- Daily Times Nigeria
