From Hawking Water to Building Futures: Hon. Wole Oke Transforms Over 1,000 Lives Through Technical Education Scholarships in Osun

In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering education and skill acquisition, Hon. Busayo Oluwole Oke has enrolled 880 students into technical colleges across Osun State under his scholarship programme, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to over 1,000. This effort is part of his commitment to supporting indigent children and promoting technical education as a pathway to self-reliance and industrialisation.

The initiative, which aligns with the vision of His Excellency Asiwaju Sen. Nurudeen Ademola Jackson Adeleke’s administration, involved the allocation of nearly Ten Million Naira to cover enrolment fees and school levies for Year 1 students at nine technical colleges, including those in Osogbo, Ara, Otan, Gbongan, Ile-Ife, and Ijebu-Jesa. Additionally, it covered fees for Year 2 students at Ijeda-Ijebu-Jesa Technical College.

Hon. Oke emphasised the importance of technical education in driving Nigeria’s industrialisation, stating, “We must begin the industrialisation of our country through the kind of education that we give our children… Our efforts are focused on empowering young people with practical skills, making them more employable and self-sufficient.” He revealed that the programme aims to sponsor 2,000 students across the state.

Hon. Wole Oke, when asked on the phone by Peaknews why he chose to extend this scholarship to the whole state, said, “We must begin industrialisation of our country through the kind of education that we give our children; those other industrialised countries do not have the volume of manpower and intelligence that Nigeria is endowed with. We must start from our state.

We are determined to lead a silent revolution in the country, starting with our state, Osun, by promoting technical education and skill acquisition, an often-overlooked area in the national academic curriculum. Our efforts are focused on empowering young people with practical skills, making them more employable and self-sufficient, Oke posited

The scholarship programme has garnered widespread acclaim from students and educators alike. Testimonials from beneficiaries highlight its transformative impact. Adebayo Joshua Oluwanifemi, a class captain at Government Technical College in Ara, expressed gratitude on behalf of his peers. Similarly, Obasi Ada from the Textile Department in Gbongan GTC shared how the scholarship has provided her with an opportunity her family could not afford. Another student in Osogbo recounted how the program changed her life from hawking sachet water to pursuing an education.

Principals of the nine technical colleges have lauded Hon. Oke’s efforts for significantly boosting enrolment and positioning Osun State as a leader in technical education nationwide. Omolebi-Sunday Segun Tunde, who led a Quality Assurance Team across the state’s colleges, conveyed messages of hope and encouraged students to seize this “golden opportunity”. Hon. Mercy Ayodele also urged students to excel and make Hon. Oke proud.

Community leaders and organisations have joined in praising the initiative. The Ara National Students Association (ANSA) commended Hon. Oke for his selfless service in a communique signed by their leadership. Adams Oladayo conveyed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of His Royal Majesty Oba (Dr) Olubayo Adesola Windapo, Alara of Ara.

This scholarship programme is not only alleviating financial burdens but also equipping young Nigerians with skills to become entrepreneurs and leaders in their fields—marking a significant step toward a brighter future for Osun State and beyond.

This effort builds on Hon. Oke’s longstanding commitment to education in Osun State. Previously, he sponsored over 600 indigent students in higher institutions and funded JAMB candidates from his constituency.