AN OPEN LETTER TO GOV. AJIMOBI OF OYO STATE ON THE STATE OF 2012/2013 SCHOLARSHIP

The decision of Governor Abiola Ajimobi to resuscitate the hitherto moribund Oyo State Scholarship Board was greeted with warm applause from all quarters. Many considered this a good take-off for a leader who is passionate about education and human capital development. It was therefore not surprising when the Board delivered its first assignment few months after its inauguration by releasing substantial amount of money for the payment of 2011/2012 Bursary and Scholarship Awards to Oyo State indigent but brilliant Students in tertiary institutions. Therefore when the second edition of the Awards was advertised in 2013, many students applied, including the ‘Thomases’ who ignored the first edition. Not even the N1,500 application fee could prevent students from applying; many considered it a profitable investment, having weighed the potential benefit of N100,000. Many went as far as borrowing to apply for the scholarship especially with the short notice that was given during the period of application and its considerable extension. Fear however heightened when their hope failed to materialize almost eleven months after the application.

It is quite understandable that scholarships and bursaries are not rights but privileges. Nevertheless, the plight of the indigent students should not be taken for granted. Almost all tertiary institutions have begun 2013/2014 academic session while Oyo State Government is yet to pay 2012/2013 bursary and scholarship which it promised. Majority of the affected students are of the opinion that the payment is being unnecessarily delayed for political reasons as the governor is seeking a second term in office. If this is true, the question is why should the element of politics rear its ugly head whenever any government wants to better the lots of the masses?

His Excellency, Governor Abiola Ajimobi may not be Jesus Christ of Nazareth, neither is he the biblical Simon of Cyrene or Joseph of Arimathaea, but this burden he has already placed on himself must be delivered without failure or further deferment. Any attempt to renege on his promise will cast a thick shadow on his second term agenda as students form a sizeable proportion of electorates even though students’ vote might be considered negligible in our environment. This is not an effort to malign the incumbent administration, but a passionate appeal to Mr Governor to utilize his highly extolled office in ensuring prompt disbursement of the fund. A stitch in time saves nine.

Kind regards,

Oyecuteez