The Tajudeen Olesin Foundation has awarded scholarships to 115 secondary school students in Ilorin to support their education in the 2026/2027 academic session.
The scholarships, announced at the closing ceremony of the foundation’s 8th Annual Summer Lesson Programme on Sunday, covered students from JSS1 to SS3.
Founder of the foundation, Amb. Tajudeen Ibrahim Shola Olesin, Ph.D., said 20 students each from JSS1, JSS2, JSS3, SS1 and SS2 would receive scholarships covering their school fees for the academic session.
He added that 15 SS3 students — five each from the Science, Arts and Commercial classes — would also benefit from the scholarship scheme.
Olesin said the initiative was part of the foundation’s broader commitment to ensuring that children were not prevented from pursuing education because of circumstances beyond their control.
“We believe that no child should be limited by circumstances beyond their control,” he said.
He said the foundation established the annual summer lesson programme in 2016 with the conviction that investment in education was one of the surest investments in the future prosperity of communities.
According to him, about 13,000 students have participated in the programme since its inception, apart from 2020 and 2021 when it could not hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said more than secondary school students participated in this year’s edition, the highest number in the history of the programme.
“These numbers are important, but what matters even more to us is the young people behind the numbers — their dreams, their talents and the future they represent,” he said.
Olesin said the foundation had also provided participating students with exercise books and other learning materials, while introducing vocational training into this year’s programme to equip the students with practical and technical skills.
He disclosed that 30 teachers and five supervisors were engaged for the programme and properly remunerated for their services.
The founder further disclosed that an individual had offered to sponsor free NECO GCE registration for 10 students.
He said the gesture demonstrated the impact that could be achieved when individuals came together to support education.
Olesin appreciated the Kwara State Government, past and present, for creating an enabling environment for the programme since 2016.
He also thanked the management of Government Day Secondary School, Amule, where the programme was held, as well as the teachers, supervisors, parents and guardians for their contributions.
To the students, Olesin said: “The classroom doors may close today, but your journey has only begun. Go forward with confidence. Learn. Build. Create. Serve your community.”
He said the Tajudeen Olesin Foundation would continue to support education, human-capital development and initiatives that provide young people with opportunities to discover and fulfil their potential.
Speaking as Chairman of the occasion, Senator Dr Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe commended the foundation for its investment in the education of young people.
Oloriegbe stressed the importance of education to the future of children and called on parents and other stakeholders to ensure that children remained in school and continued learning.
He also advocated greater attention to practical skills and emerging areas of knowledge, including media, digital skills, forensic and digital analysis.
“Education is very important,” Oloriegbe said, urging stakeholders not to allow children to remain idle during the long vacation.
He said inadequate education could have wider consequences for society, stressing that children needed the knowledge and skills required to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
The Islamic guest lecturer, Sheikh AbdulRasaq Aduagba, also commended Olesin for investing in the education of children.
Aduagba said there was nothing wrong with individuals seeking political office but urged voters ahead of the 2027 elections to consider the records of aspirants in philanthropy and humanitarian services.
He cited Olesin, Ridwan Cook Amode, Yusuf Saka Eletu, Haruna Maigidasanma and Engr Sulaiman Kale Kawu as individuals whose records in human-capital development, according to him, deserved consideration.
“There is nothing wrong for individuals to seek political offices,” Aduagba said, while criticising the election of people without antecedents in philanthropy and humanitarian services.
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