In a move to support academic excellence and alleviate financial burden of deserving students, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has awarded scholarships to twelve (12) indigent but brilliant students of the University.
The beneficiaries, spread across all undergraduate levels and different courses, formally received the scholarships on Thursday, November 23, 2023.
During the heartwarming ceremony held at the Rahman Bello Auditorium, Chairman of ASUU-UNILAG, Professor Kayode Adebayo emphasized the importance of investing in education and supporting talented students who lack the financial means to pursue their academic aspirations.
Announcing the awards, Professor Adebayo stated that the ASUU leadership at its last Congress in October directed all chapters of the union to institute the scholarship scheme as a way of ensuring that indigent but brilliant students are not denied quality education.
He explained that the national secretariat of the union provided scholarships worth Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200, 000:00) per session to 2 students across all public universities, while individual branches are to also give awards to the indigent students within their institutions.
His words “we are acting in furtherance to the directive by our National secretariat to recognize the academic achievements of indigent students by providing them with the opportunity to continue their education without financial impediments. It is to this end, that we at the University of Lagos branch decided to add ten (10) more to show our commitment to academic excellence. The additional ten would also receive One Hundred Thousand Naira (N 100,000:00) each.”
He commended the resilience and dedication exhibited by the scholarship recipients, some of whom have physical challenges, and encouraged them to continue striving for excellence in their academic pursuits.
The immediate past Chairman of ASUU-UNILAG, Dr. Dele Ashiru during the cheque presentation disclosed that the selection was based on a rigorous evaluation process that considered academic performance, financial need, and potential for future contributions to their respective fields.
In her remarks, a staunch member of the union, Prof. Bolajoko Dixon-Ogbeche opined that the gesture would serve as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of education and the invaluable impact of philanthropic initiatives.
The recipients expressed their heartfelt appreciation to ASUU for recognizing their academic achievements and providing them with the opportunity to continue their education without financial impediments.