Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun State on Wednesday honoured outstanding students in the 2025 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examination in the state.
The event, tagged Imole Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Scholarship Award, was organised by Electronic Collections Group (ECG) in partnership with the Ministry of Education.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 31 students drawn from across the state’s local government areas received cash awards.
Each top-performing student received N100,000, while the overall best student was awarded N1 million.
Teachers who prepared the students in the nine WAEC subjects were also rewarded with N50,000 each, while schools that produced the awardees received educational materials.
Speaking at the ceremony, Adeleke said the initiative was designed to reward academic excellence and inspire students to attain higher standards.
He added that the scheme would also improve the state’s performance in the SSCE, noting that Osun currently ranks seventh nationally.
The governor said the programme celebrated the collective efforts of students, teachers, parents and the Ministry of Education.
Adeleke also used the occasion to urge residents to support his re-election bid in the Aug. 15 governorship election and to reject vote-buying.
“My people, Osun is at an unusual time ahead of the Aug. 15 election. Those who hijacked and diverted over N300 billion of Osun local government funds are desperate.
“I charge Osun people to reject Greek gifts, shun proceeds of crime and use their votes to sustain continuity.
“Osun voters and residents have a sacred duty to reject illegality, political corruption and unconstitutional pressure to subvert democracy.
” Our votes must further deepen the delivery of democratic dividends as witnessed from 2022 to date.
“Those who violated the law must be exposed through rejection at the polls. Those who trampled on the constitution to hijack local governments must be electorally rejected.
“Osun must present itself as a model of good governance and a symbol of democracy,” he said.
The governor further stressed that as the state celebrates academic excellence, the electorate must demonstrate that anti-democratic elements have no place in governance.
In his remarks, the lead consultant for ECG, Kayode Akinmade, commended the governor for initiating and approving the programme, describing it as a significant boost to education in the state.
“We appreciate His Excellency for promoting excellence and recognising outstanding students at all levels of education.
“This maiden edition is a huge success.
“This is to encourage future leaders to remain focused in a world filled with distractions.
“We implore schools not to relent; this is only a stepping stone, and the sky is the limit,” he said.
