By No fewer than 600 outstanding tertiary institution students from Lagos East Senatorial District have benefited from the 2021 Tokunbo Abiru Foundation Bursary Scheme.
The scheme is an initiative of the Senator representing the District in the National Assembly, Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA. It is expected to serve as a support to the students in furtherance of their academic pursuit. The sum of N50,000 was awarded to each of the 600 beneficiaries.
The award ceremony was held on Thursday at School of Agriculture 500-seater Auditorium, LASPOTECH, Ikorodu, Lagos.
The event had in attendance several dignitaries including members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), past and present members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, members of the House of Representatives, traditional leaders, top politicians, party stalwarts, among others.
Delivering his address, Senator Abiru explained that bursary award was borne of his commitment to reaching out to his constituents, adding that the scheme forms part of his Education Endowment targeted at brilliant, studious but indigent indigenes in the 16 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos East Senatorial District.
He said, “The issues of young people are the core of my own legislative agenda. The minimum I believe we can do and in line with our social contract with our esteemed constituent is to provide support for their dreams in order to have full and maximum expression. I am passionate about greater good for greater number. This mantra guides my philosophy and strategy in giving a lease of life to our people within my power.
“The doing good concept is to ensure it extends to greater number of people.’
‘One of the major agenda of my social contract with the good people of Lagos East Senatorial District is youth development of global readiness. This, I have sought to achieve with multi-dimensional approach through collaboration, cocreation, infrastructural intervention, and capacity building. It is a part of this that has given birth to my Annual Sen. Abiru Endowment Fund and to support and encourage our staff and students within their respective institutions of learning. That is the reason why we are here today.”
Speaking on what informed the initiative, Chairman of the Tokunbo Abiru Bursary Advisory Board, Dr. Abiodun Fatai Abatan described the bursary scheme as the largest privately funded bursary award in the history of Lagos East Senatorial district.
He congratulated the successful beneficiaries, saying that their focus, handwork and dedication was the antidote for their selection.
“The support you are receiving for your education today is unique, particularly at this period of Post COVID-19 pandemic and excruciating global economic crisis, which is making parents strive hard to see their children/wards through education. I implore you all to put this money into good use and ensure that you do not fall below the minimum academic standard set for the selection criteria so that you can still benefit in subsequent exercises,” Abatan added.
