The campaign organisation of Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the August 15 Osun State governorship poll, on Friday announced the donation of N1m to the overall best graduating student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Oladepo Caleb Olugbenga.

Oladepo, an indigene of Ijimoba, an agrarian community in Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State, led the pack at the 18th convocation ceremonies of the university, graduating with a CGPA of 4.89 out of 5.0.

Announcing the donation in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Friday, the Chairman of the Media Committee of Ambo Campaign Organisation, Mr Remi Omowaiye, said the gesture was in appreciation of the dedication shown by Oladepo to his studies.

Omowaiye, who is the Executive Director, Project Implementation, Federal Housing Authority, Abuja, said Oyebamiji was elated with the report of Oladepo’s academic achievement, noting that by “coming out to state how NELFUND assisted him to push through his studies, Oladepo has shown that Nigerian youths are capable of breaking any barriers with the necessary assistance.”

The statement further read in part, “The Ambo Campaign Organisation commends Oladepo for coming out in flying colours, despite having to struggle with a lot of distractions.

“The APC candidate in the August 15 Osun State governorship poll, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, has received the report of the feat achieved by Oladepo. He commended him and expressed readiness to always support youths in the state to excel in every noble area that attracts their interest, regardless of the cost attached to it.

“On behalf of the campaign organisation, we are making a donation of N1m to Oladepo. We are also assuring youths in the state of our resolve to always provide the needed assistance for them to excel.

“We also commend Oladepo for coming out to state how the availability of NELFUND assisted him in financing his studies. That alone is a validation of the tremendous impact the initiative introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu is having on Nigeria’s educational system.”

Oladepo Caleb Olugbenga, a graduate of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, grew up in a village in Osun State without electricity for nine years and emerged as the overall best graduating engineering student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, with a CGPA of 4.89 out of 5.0.

According to him, his family had no television and relied on lanterns and candles, while food, clothing and school fees were daily struggles.

He attended public primary and secondary schools because private ones were unaffordable, walking miles to school every morning while his parents worked multiple jobs to keep the household running.

On January 14, the university formally named him the overall best graduating engineering student of the 2024/2025 session in Electronic and Electrical Engineering.

On Thursday, he credited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund for making his education possible.

Tagging NELFUND on X, Oladepo wrote, “I’m honoured to let you know that I am the Best Graduating Student of LAUTECH. Your loans made it possible.”