The Gift of Hope: ASUU-OOU Awards ₦6.2m to 31 Indigent Students
For 31 students at Olabisi Onabanjo University, the burden of tuition for the 2025/2026 academic session just became a lot lighter. On Sunday, December 21, 2025, the OOU chapter of ASUU announced the disbursement of ₦200,000 each to a select group of indigent students, ensuring they remain in the classroom rather than dropping out due to economic pressures.
A Sacrifice from the Top
What makes this scholarship unique is its source. According to the ASUU-OOU Chairperson, Dr. Ganiyu Yinusa, the ₦6.2 million fund was built on a foundation of personal sacrifice.
A significant portion of the money came from voluntary donations of sitting allowances by internal members of the University Council. These academic leaders chose to forgo their own stipends to invest directly in the future of their students—a gesture Dr. Yinusa described as a “rare and commendable demonstration of personal sacrifice.”
Beyond the Classroom: A Mission of Equity
The scholarship is part of ASUU’s broader Indigent Students Scholarship Scheme, which aims to bridge the widening gap in access to higher education.
- The Goal: To provide a safety net for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The Criteria: Recipients were chosen based on proven financial need combined with a commitment to their academic pursuits.
- The Message: The union reaffirmed its stance that no qualified Nigerian should be denied a university education simply because they cannot afford it.
“A Call to Excellence”
While the cash aid provides immediate relief, the union was quick to remind the beneficiaries that the award comes with a responsibility. Dr. Yinusa urged the students to remain “focused, disciplined, and committed,” noting that the ₦200,000 grant is both a support mechanism and a challenge to reach for academic excellence.
As Nigeria continues to navigate economic hurdles, this initiative by ASUU-OOU serves as a powerful reminder that when a community comes together, the “dropout” narrative can be rewritten, one student at a time.
