Five students from various departments of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) have emerged beneficiaries of the expanded Grace Trust Fund Entrepreneurship Project of the Ajiro Omas Foundation, an initiative designed to support indigent but enterprising students. The beneficiaries are Peace Oluwatosin, Adewale David Adeola, Folorunso Victoria, Orogbangba Mary and Akinyemi Blessing.
The Ajiro Omas Foundation, established by Mr. Ajiro Omas, an alumnus of FUTA’s Department of Chemistry, has steadily expanded the initiative since its inception in 2023. The Foundation supported two students in its maiden edition, increased the number of beneficiaries to four the following year, and has since sustained support for five students annually, including this year’s awardees.
Each beneficiary received a cash grant of ₦100,000 to support and strengthen their entrepreneurial ventures, underscoring the Foundation’s commitment to empowering students through enterprise development.
Speaking through the Project Coordinator, Mr. John Ogundijo, Mr. Omas said the initiative was founded on the conviction that education remains the foundation of lifelong success and that no student should be denied the opportunity to realise his or her potential because of financial limitations.
He explained that the Foundation seeks to inspire students irrespective of their socio-economic background by providing access to scholarships, youth coaching, mentoring programmes and books on personal development aimed at building character and developing the next generation of role models, leaders and change agents who will contribute positively to the long-term sustainability and well-being of society.
According to him, the Foundation believes that every student can succeed when provided with the right instruction, guidance and encouragement. He noted that the Grace Trust Fund Entrepreneurship Project complements the educational experience by promoting entrepreneurship alongside academic, physical, emotional and social development while preparing beneficiaries for lifelong learning, critical thinking, responsible citizenship and the application of knowledge to improve the quality of life.
Mr. Omas further stated that the initiative is designed to instil in beneficiaries a strong sense of responsibility towards themselves, one another, their communities and the environment. He stressed that the success of the Foundation’s programmes depends on the collective efforts of students, teachers, parents and other members of society, adding that together they can unlock the potential of young people and transform lives.
In his remarks, the Project Coordinator, Mr. John Ogundijo, noted that limited financial resources should never be regarded as a barrier to skill acquisition and personal development. He commended the beneficiaries for their resilience and entrepreneurial spirit and urged them to remain determined, disciplined and prudent in managing the resources entrusted to them.
He encouraged the students to make judicious use of the grants to strengthen their entrepreneurial ventures and position themselves for self-reliance. Reaffirming the vision of the Foundation, he said, “Together we can make a huge difference. We can bring out the best from the least by giving the best to the least.”
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, commended the Ajiro Omas Foundation for its sustained commitment to empowering indigent but enterprising students through entrepreneurship support. The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Professor Sunday Oluyamo, described the initiative as a worthy complement to the University’s commitment to producing graduates who are not only academically excellent but also innovative, entrepreneurial and self-reliant.
Professor Oladiji observed that the steady expansion of the programme—from supporting two students at its inception in 2023 to empowering five students annually—demonstrates the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to investing in the future of young people. She congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to make judicious use of the ₦100,000 grants as seed capital for viable business ventures that would improve their livelihoods and positively impact society.
Professor Oladiji further called on other alumni and well-meaning individuals to emulate the philanthropic gesture of Mr. Ajiro Omas by partnering with the University to create more opportunities for indigent students, noting that such collaborations would further strengthen the University’s entrepreneurship drive, promote innovation and contribute significantly to national development by producing graduates equipped with the skills and capacity to create employment and solve societal challenges.
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