The Gbemiga Abiodun Memorial Support Program has provided millions of Naira in educational aid to students across primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions in the state.
This initiative, launched by Governor Dapo Abiodun and his family in memory of their son Gbemiga, who passed away on October 7, 2017, aims to support education in his honor.
At the second edition held at Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Iperu-Remo, ₦39,750,000 was distributed to 159 students from nine tertiary institutions, while primary and secondary students across Ikenne, Remo-North, and Sagamu received ₦14,700,000 and ₦36,600,000 respectively.
Governor Abiodun, speaking at the event, praised his late son as a vibrant entrepreneur and generous soul, and introduced a new “Creative Students Category” to recognize talents in the creative industry, which Gbemiga was part of.
The governor pledged to extend the program to other local governments and promised to continue increasing the number of beneficiaries.
The program, which began in 2023 with 600 students, now supports 1,000 students across the same educational levels.
“We’ve also introduced the ‘Creative Students Category’ because Gbemiga was incredibly creative. Applications for this new category will remain open for several months to select deserving candidates,” he announced.
The governor reflected on the bittersweet nature of the initiative, noting that while they lost a son, the program has gained thousands of children, as seen in the growing number of beneficiaries.
“Gbemiga was an entrepreneur from a young age, always eager to help others, even if it meant giving away all he had,” he reminisced.
Continuing in his son’s spirit of generosity, the governor shared that he had established an endowment for the program, without accepting contributions from friends, preferring to build it first before seeking external support.
Rev’d Bola Oyeledun, the foundation’s coordinator, emphasized the program’s commitment to supporting and guiding students throughout their educational journey, appealing to institutional leaders to collaborate further.
Commissioner for Education Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu commended the initiative and encouraged students to take full advantage of the support.
A friend of Gbemiga, Afolabi Seriki, described him as both a good friend and an accomplished disc jockey, excelling in both academics and extracurricular ventures.
Representing the beneficiaries, Yahaya Soliat, Adebanjo Goodluck, and Evelyn Falaye expressed their gratitude, acknowledging the life-changing impact of the scholarships on their education.
The event concluded with the awarding of cheques to school heads and parents.
Students from Ikenne, Remo-North, and Sagamu, aged 6 to 25, interested in the “Creative Students Category” can apply via www.gbemigaabiodunfoundation.org before October 7, 2025.
