Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has donated a N50 million endowment fund to Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU).
The fund, unveiled during the university’s 15th convocation ceremony, is designated to reward the institution’s best graduating female student annually for the next decade.
Represented by Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebamiji, Senator Tinubu expressed her commitment to empowering young Nigerian girls.
“In pursuit of this vision to promote education, I hereby donate the sum of Fifty Million Naira as an Endowment Fund for the overall best graduating female student of JABU,” she announced.
She emphasized the importance of education as a foundation for national development. “Education has always been a critical pillar in the development of individuals and the nation as a whole. This recognition inspires me to continue serving both humanity and our nation,” she said after receiving an Honorary Doctorate Degree from JABU.
The endowment fund, named the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Prize for Academic Excellence, ensures an annual prize of N5 million for the top-performing female graduate over the next ten years. This year’s recipient, Mary Ojone Omachi from the Department of Mass Communication, graduated with a CGPA of 4.88.
The university Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Joash Amupitan, praised the First Lady for her support and highlighted the infrastructure challenges faced by private institutions. He called on the government to include private universities in Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) initiatives and federal student loan schemes, noting their vital role in Nigeria’s educational ecosystem.
“The bulk of TETFUND resources comes from private sector taxes, including private universities. It is only fair they benefit from these funds,” Amupitan stated.
The Vice-Chancellor of JABU, Prof. Kola Sonaike, revealed that 626 students graduated this year, with 50 earning first-class honors. He lauded Senator Tinubu’s donation as a significant contribution to the university’s mission of fostering academic excellence and empowering female students.
“This remarkable endowment underscores our commitment to rewarding excellence. We hope this initiative will inspire future students to strive for greatness,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
Senator Tinubu’s initiative is seen as a bold step toward bridging gender gaps in education and empowering young women to excel academically and contribute to Nigeria’s development.
