By Gift Chapi Odekina, Abuja

The Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and member representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Oluwole Oke, has expanded his technical education scholarship scheme with the enrolment of 420 new beneficiaries across nine Government Technical Colleges in Osun State.

The latest intake strengthens the five-year-old programme, which began as a pilot at Ijebu-Jesa Government Technical College before expanding statewide two years ago.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Oke said the new beneficiaries are predominantly Year 1 students, with additional Year 2 entrants in eight colleges and Year 1 to Year 3 students at the Ijebu-Jesa centre.

With this new addition, the total number of beneficiaries under the scheme has grown to about 1,500 — a significant milestone for a programme funded entirely from the lawmaker’s personal resources. Oke reportedly commits about ₦15 million per term, totalling roughly ₦40 million per academic session. The scholarship covers school fees, enrolment charges, lesson fees and other related costs.

He noted that the initiative aligns with his long-standing advocacy for greater investment in vocational education and complements the Federal Government’s recent decision to introduce free tuition in all Federal Technical Colleges nationwide.

Oke described the scholarship scheme as a strategic response to Nigeria’s widening skills gap, rising youth unemployment and the need for practical, innovation-driven competencies. He added that many graduates of the programme have advanced to higher institutions or successfully launched small businesses using skills acquired during their training.

“Technical and vocational education remains one of the most reliable pathways to empowering young people,” he said. “By equipping them with practical skills and creativity-driven training, we are reducing unemployment and building a new generation of self-reliant Nigerians.”

School administrators across the state say the scheme has already boosted enrolment and improved graduation rates, attributing part of this progress to Oke’s intervention.

As the new beneficiaries begin their training, Oke encouraged students to make the most of the opportunity, describing the investment as part of his commitment to building “a better, brighter and more empowered generation.”

Stakeholders noted that the initiative has become a model for community-driven support in technical and vocational education, with some state actors and private individuals already studying its structure for possible replication.