Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun Inaugurates Scholarship To Honour Late Son

Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun has instituted a Scholarship Award scheme for 550 indigent students in Remo Federal Constituency of the state in honor of his late son, Gbemiga Abiodun, popularly known as DJ Olu, who lost his life six years ago.

Gbemiga, until his death in October 2017 was the official DJ to the famous hip-hop artiste, Davido.

The scholarships cover pupils in primary and secondary schools, as well as those in vocational and tertiary institutions in Remoland.

Speaking at the launch of the Gbemiga Abiodun Education Scholarship Award held at Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area, Prince Abiodun made it known that the scheme will ensure that brilliant students and those whose parents could not afford to educate them, have access to quality education.

According to him, the number of beneficiaries will increase to 1000 in the next 12 months, which will be the minimum at any given time.

He also promised that the scholarship would be extended to the other federal constituencies in the state for maximum spread.

He said: “It is against this backdrop that my family came up with a scholarship scheme called Gbemiga Abiodun Memorial Scholarship Award, in memory of our son, Gbemiga Abiodun, which is strictly for indigent learners of Public Primary, Secondary Schools, Technical College and Tertiary Institutions, as well as Special Needs Learners within Ikenne, Remo North, and Sagamu Local Government Areas, to provide support to selected learners who are from the aforementioned local government areas of Ogun State.

“The Award is in two phases. The first phase is to be a scholarship award, designed for indigent and brilliant students while its alternative form; the second phase will be a Bursary Award for in-need but not necessarily brilliant indigent students whose chances of upward socio-economic mobility are probable with bursary support.

“This Scholarship award is designed for three (3) years and within the age bracket of 6-25, and selection will be determined by the State Ministry of Education Science and Technology, using the Cumulative Promotion Examination Result obtainable from the OGSERA platform while the beneficiaries for tertiary institutions were recommended by their respective institutions.”

The governor described education as the only light to the future of prosperity, development, and peaceful co-existence, noting that the program was conceived to celebrate the impactful and eventful life of Gbemiga Abiodun and all that he stood for while alive, adding the deceased lived a life of selflessness, consistency, and scholarship.

“Olu, beyond his popular choosing career as a Disc Jockey had an unwavering passion for sound education, which he pursued passionately till God called him to be with him on that fateful day of 7th October, 2017.

“It is instructive to know that Olu’s choosing career as a Disc Jockey was a product of his innate passion for music and rhythms at a very tender age; the passion he consistently pursued to the apogee,” the governor added.

Prince Abiodun who decried the low enrollment of girls in male-dominated trades in Technical Colleges and Vocational Centres compared to boys, also regretted that despite the free education policy of his administration and students in higher institutions paying less, many basic school completers are hindered from proceeding beyond junior or secondary schools and acquiring tertiary education.

He called on the beneficiaries to make the best of the scheme to better their lots, saying it was the best way his family would keep the memory of the deceased alive.