The Kwara State Education Trust Fund (Kwara-ETF) has awarded its maiden scholarships to 12 brilliant pupils from public schools, fully funding their secondary education in Unity Schools.
The development was described as a “dream come true” by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who said the initiative reflects the vision behind the creation of the Fund barely two years ago.
Established by a 2021 legislation, the Kwara ETF is managed by trustees drawn largely from the private sector and community stakeholders. Since inception, it has continued to attract strong backing from philanthropists, development partners, and corporate bodies.
Speaking at a brief orientation programme for the beneficiaries, Governor Abdulrazaq reiterated that funding education is capital-intensive and requires collective responsibility.
A statement by Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, quoted him saying: “We urge members of the public to also donate and adopt students. Don’t leave the responsibility to government and PTAs alone. Educating our children is our collective responsibility.
“Education belongs to all of us. Governments alone cannot fully shoulder the costs. That is why we created the Education Trust Fund to fill in the gaps. What you see today is the outcome of a rigorous, transparent selection process, and it is just the beginning. We will keep tracking these pupils up to the university level. Our government will also donate more funds into the Trust Fund.”
Oluwadamilola Amolegbe, Executive Secretary of Kwara ETF, explained that the process began with 640 top-performing pupils drawn from the state’s digital literacy programme, KwaraLEARN. From these, 180 pupils were shortlisted and sponsored for the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE).
“We then selected 20 per cent (36 pupils) who excelled in the NCEE. From that pool, we picked the best-performing candidates across the local government areas who also gained admission into Unity Schools. The final 12 emerged through this thorough, merit-based process,” she said.
Zainab Abdulsalam, Programme Manager of Kwara ETF, added that the Fund remains committed to building the future of the state through sustainable investments in quality education.
“These 12 pupils represent the face of the average Kwaran child. With this opportunity, they are on course for greater exposure and limitless opportunities. We will track and monitor their progress to ensure that Kwara’s investments in education through KwaraLEARN, ETF, and the Ministry of Education yield tangible results,” she said.
Parents of the beneficiaries also praised the initiative. Maxwell Kolawole, whose child hails from Ekiti Local Government, said the scholarship had lifted a huge financial burden from his shoulders.
“This is truly a pro-masses initiative. The selection process was fair and transparent, and we deeply appreciate the Governor and his administration for this life-changing gesture,” he said.
Governor Abdulrazaq congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to remain committed to excellence, saying their success stories will inspire many others across the state.
