The 2027 deputy governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Engr. Muftau Open Salawu, has said his Lifeline Scholarship Scheme has produced 20 beneficiaries, with some of them already studying at the university.
He disclosed this in a post on his Facebook wall on Wednesday, and explained that the scholarship initiative was established out of his strong belief in the importance of education and the need to support young people from an early age.
He said the initiative began in 2018 when he was invited to an inter-house sports competition at Molete D.C. School 1 in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area.
According to him, he asked the headmaster of the school to organise a quiz competition for Primary Six pupils to identify outstanding students who could be supported through scholarships.
Four pupils — Elijah Ifeoluwa, Saminu Waliyat, Ayanshina Ibrahim and Oyewale Dorcas, emerged as winners and were awarded scholarships up to the higher institution level.
Salawu said the initiative was extended the following year, when six additional pupils from Orire Local Government Area and 10 pupils from Ogbomoso North Local Government Area were selected through the same process.
He said the expansion brought the number of beneficiaries under the Lifeline Scholarship Scheme to 20, with some of them having progressed to university education.
“Today, we have 20 beneficiaries under my Lifeline Scholarship Scheme up to university level, and to the glory of God, some of them are already in the university,” he stated.
Salawu said he considered education a critical investment in the future of young people, stressing that children needed proper guidance early in life while their parents should also be supported.
“I deeply value the importance of education, and I believe young people need to be guided early in life while their parents are supported,” he said.
He described the scholarship initiative as part of his efforts to give promising young people opportunities to pursue their education and develop their potential.
Salawu ended his message with his call for people-centred development: ‘Build the people, free the nation’.