Higher Education Scholarship Grants

The experience behind the initiative

The program has its roots in co-founder Dr Michael Olugbile’s experience of financial hardship and the support that helped him continue his education.

While attending Odo-Otin Grammar School, Okuku, there were terms when his family struggled to pay school fees of less than ₦150. His mother was a teacher, and the principal sometimes allowed the children to remain in school while awaiting payment of her salary. At other times, household debts left little available for school costs, and they were sent home.

Scholarship support from Bishop David Oyedepo’s Living Faith Church, alongside assistance from other benefactors, later helped Michael complete medical school.

While still a university student receiving scholarship support himself, he began setting aside part of those funds to assist secondary school students, including paying university entrance examination fees.

That early commitment developed into the education programmes he and his wife, Mrs Oluwapelumi Olugbile, deliver through GIPSED.

Launching the higher education grants

In 2021, GIPSED launched the first edition of its scholarship grants for students in higher institutions. Available resources determined the initial focus on Odo-Otin LGA, with an ambition to extend the programme to Ifelodun and Boripe as funding allowed.

The inaugural application was open to indigenes of Odo-Otin LGA who were current students or newly admitted into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Applications were free of charge and fully online, allowing eligible students to apply using a mobile phone. The application deadline was 10 December 2021.

Reaching students through their communities

GIPSED worked with the Federation of Odo-Otin Students Union (FOSU) and presidents and vice-presidents of student unions in the individual towns to circulate the application information.

These student leaders also provided a local point of contact for applicants who needed assistance completing the form.

The programme received 198 applications, of which 175 were considered valid.

How beneficiaries were selected

A 16-person selection committee, including representatives of FOSU, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, GIPSED and other local stakeholders, coordinated selection.

The committee agreed on selection criteria and the number of awards that available resources could support. Allocations to communities took account of the number of valid applications received from each community.

Applicants supplied information about their academic background, education costs and family financial circumstances. They were also asked to explain their need for support and provide documents supporting their application.

Although the initial plan was to select 100 beneficiaries, the final number increased to 110 students.

The December 2021 award ceremony

The award ceremony took place at Okuku Town Hall on 31 December 2021, recognizing the 110 selected beneficiaries.

Education grants were given to each beneficiary towards their education expenses. The support contributed to students’ costs while expressing the commitment behind the programme: extending to others the kind of assistance that had helped shape the founder’s own educational journey.

The programme in numbers — 2021

Beneficiaries and the award ceremony in pictures

The programme gallery will feature photographs of the beneficiaries and the gathering at Okuku Town Hall, alongside the original application and award-ceremony flyers.

The flyers will appear as historical records of the 2021 programme. Captions will identify the occasion, location and year, while the published beneficiary list will document the students selected for support.