Oyo Students Laud Makinde’s Expanded Bursary Scheme, Endorse 2027 Presidential Ambition

Oyo Students Laud Makinde’s Expanded Bursary Scheme, Endorse 2027 Presidential Ambition

The Federation of Oyo State Students’ Unions (FOSSU) has commended the Oyo State Government for the timely disbursement of expanded bursary awards to final-year students, describing the intervention as a critical investment in human capital development while formally endorsing Governor Seyi Makinde’s 2027 presidential ambition. — IBADAN, Nigeria, Oct. 8, 2026

In remarks made available to Shemnews on Thursday during a press briefing at the Ministry of Education in the State Secretariat, FOSSU National President Ahmed Mufutau praised the administration's consistency in prioritizing student welfare.

The union highlighted the deliberate inclusion of students from Colleges of Education alongside universities and specialized professional faculties, emphasizing that the tiered scheme directly addresses the steep costs of modern higher education.

Key components of the 2026 General Bursary Awards and student resolutions include:

Tiered Financial Architecture: Final-year Clinical, Aeronautics, and Aviation students will receive ₦500,000 [approx. $310 / £240] each in recognition of high training costs. University undergraduates are allocated ₦200,000 [approx. $125], Higher National Diploma (HND) candidates will receive ₦150,000 [approx. $95], and National Certificate in Education (NCE) students are slated for ₦100,000 [approx. $62]. Expanded Reach: An estimated 5,000 final-year indigenes in public tertiary institutions are projected to benefit this year nearly double the 2,600 beneficiaries recorded in 2025. The initiative also marks the sixth consecutive year that Oyo State law school students have received ₦500,000 disbursements. Application Window: The official application portal opens on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, and closes on Nov. 1, 2026. Students have been advised to prepare verified documentation early and avoid unofficial third-party links to protect against fraudulent actors. 2027 Political Endorsement: Declaring the union's full backing, Mufutau pledged that indigenous student bodies would mobilize statewide ahead of the 2027 general elections. Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Victor Olojede, affirmed the alliance, arguing that Makinde’s education reforms including the abolition of secondary school fees and aggressive teacher recruitment serve as a blueprint capable of resetting Nigeria at the federal level.

By Adewale Owoade | Shemnews