Osedimilehin Foundation Awards Scholarships to 250+ Students
The High Chiefs Bode and Betty Osedimilehin Foundation has provided scholarships to over 250 students in Ondo and Osun states.
More than 250 students from public primary and secondary schools, technical colleges, and medical programmes have received scholarships from the High Chiefs Bode and Betty Osedimilehin Foundation. The 2026 awards, presented across ceremonies in September, targeted students from specific local government areas in Ondo State and Ile-Ife in Osun State.
Programme Scope and Locations
The scholarship initiative, which began in 2024, is now in its third consecutive year. It is designed to reduce the financial burden of education on families and support human capital development. The beneficiaries were drawn from Owo, Ose, Akure North, and Akure South Local Government Areas of Ondo State, as well as Ile-Ife in Osun State.
The foundation executed the 2026 awards through a series of presentations across three locations.
| Location | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Owo | September 15 | Imade College |
| Akure | September 17 | Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School |
| Ile-Ife | September 26 | Event tied to Olojo Festival |
In Ile-Ife, the presentation was organised in collaboration with the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Babatunde Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II. The foundation selected 40 beneficiaries from 20 public schools in that area.
Speeches and Encouragement
At the Akure ceremony, the foundation's Executive Coordinator, Osedimilehin Dele Johnson, framed the scholarships as an investment rather than mere aid. He urged beneficiaries to take their studies seriously so the support would translate into improved academic performance and personal development. Johnson stated the foundation's core message directly to students: “Your education matters. Your potential matters. Your future matters.”
The founders, High Chiefs Bode and Betty Osedimilehin, joined the event virtually from Australia. They congratulated the students and encouraged them to maximize the opportunity. They also challenged the beneficiaries to cultivate a spirit of giving, urging them to support others in need when they are able to do so in the future.
Officials and Dignitaries React
Several government officials and traditional leaders attended the ceremonies and commended the foundation's sustained effort. The Senior Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on Scholarship, Alhaji Samad Orijeminiyi, praised the consistency of the programme over three years. He noted that the beneficiaries' academic success would be the main encouragement for the sponsors to expand the scheme further. Orijeminiyi pledged to bring the contributions of the founders to the attention of the state government for formal recognition.
Engineer Razaq Obe, the immediate past Director-General of the Ondo State Project Performance Implementation and Monitoring Unit, delivered a guest lecture. He described education as the bedrock of society and a critical tool for national advancement. Obe called on other individuals, philanthropists, and corporations to increase their investments in education, highlighting the ongoing financial pressures many families face.
A number of traditional rulers were also present, including Oba Olu Falae, the Olu of Ilu Abo; Oba Adeleke Adedoyin, the Owa Ale of Ikare; and the Arujale-Ojima of Okeluse. They joined other dignitaries in calling on more well-meaning individuals and organisations to complement government efforts in the education sector, especially given the rising cost of schooling.
The foundation has stated its commitment to continuing the scholarship scheme to support students and contribute to human capital development in its host communities.
