The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) chapter, has awarded scholarships worth N6.2 million to 31 indigent students of the institution. This gesture underscores the union’s sustained commitment to promoting equity, expanding access to education, and enhancing student welfare.
The Chairperson of ASUU, OOU chapter, Dr. Ganiyu Yinusa, announced in a statement on Sunday that each of the 31 beneficiaries received N200,000, bringing the total value of the scholarship intervention to N6.2 million. The financial support is intended to assist the students in paying school fees and other approved charges for the 2025/2026 academic session, thereby alleviating the financial burden on those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Indigent Students Scholarship Scheme was funded largely through voluntary donations of sitting allowances accrued from several University Council meetings by internal members of the University Council, complemented by direct financial contributions from ASUU-OOU as a branch. According to Dr. Yinusa, this collective sacrifice highlights the union’s deep sense of responsibility, solidarity, and commitment to the welfare of students within the university community.
Dr. Yinusa explained that the scholarship scheme is part of ASUU’s broader commitment to promoting inclusive education, preventing student dropout due to financial hardship, and supporting academic excellence. The union reaffirmed its belief that no qualified student should be denied access to university education because of financial constraints.
ASUU commended the internal members of the University Council for voluntarily donating their sitting allowances earned over several meetings, describing the gesture as a rare and commendable demonstration of personal sacrifice in support of education and human capital development.
The beneficiaries were selected through a rigorous process to ensure that the support reaches those most in need. The union congratulated the recipients and encouraged them to remain focused, disciplined, and committed to their academic pursuits, noting that the scholarship serves both as a support mechanism and a call to excellence.
According to the statement, the intervention reinforces ASUU’s role not only as a defender of staff welfare and university autonomy but also as a key stakeholder in student development, social justice, and sustainable access to quality education within the Nigerian university system.
One of the major factors limiting access to quality education in the country is poverty. This scholarship aims to address this challenge and ensure that financial constraints do not hinder deserving students from pursuing their academic goals.
Speaking recently, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, emphasized the importance of ensuring that no eligible Nigerian student is deprived of higher education due to financial constraints. As of December 2025, NELFUND had disbursed a total of N154.3 billion in loans to 788,947 students across the country since the scheme began 19 months ago.
The ASUU OOU chapter’s scholarship initiative aligns with national efforts to improve access to education and highlights the critical role of stakeholders in bridging financial gaps for students. The union’s actions reflect a broader societal need to support education as a pathway to national development.
By supporting these 31 students, ASUU OOU underscores the power of collective action in fostering educational equity and empowering the next generation of leaders in Nigeria.
