Jelili Gbadamosi
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has fulfilled her N10 million education pledge to a 12-year-old Ogun State artist, Master Morenikeji Ebunoluwa Joshua.
The N10 million Education Development Trust Fund, provided by the First Lady, is to support Joshua’s education through the tertiary level.
Tinubu had announced the pledge on August 18 after seeing a portrait of herself painted by Joshua during the launch of the South-West Zonal National Food Bank Programme at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
Impressed by the young artist’s talent, the First Lady invited him to the podium and pledged N10 million towards his education.
Presenting the cheque on behalf of Tinubu, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, described the gesture as evidence that “a promise made is a promise kept.”
Abiodun said the intervention was not merely about the financial value but represented an investment in a young Nigerian whose talent had been identified and encouraged.
He urged young Nigerians to identify, develop and promote their talents.
“Young Joshua Morenikeji is someone who wants to be heard, he wants to be seen, he wants his talent to be appreciated,” the governor said.
Abiodun also disclosed that the Ogun State Government had previously intervened in Joshua’s education after he saw one of the boy’s paintings at an exhibition in his office three years ago.
According to him, further interaction revealed that Joshua was still in primary school, prompting him to approve a scholarship to cover his education from primary to secondary school.
“I immediately announced a scholarship in his favour to see him through primary to secondary school, and that has been done,” he said.
With Tinubu’s latest intervention, Joshua’s educational support has now been extended to the tertiary level.
The governor disclosed that an account had been opened specifically to preserve the N10 million fund for Joshua’s educational needs.
He thanked the First Lady for the gesture and congratulated Joshua’s parents, urging them to continue supporting their son.
The Senior Special Assistant to the First Lady on Strategy, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King, who handed over the cheque to Abiodun, said Joshua’s story demonstrated the need for education to recognise and nurture different forms of talent.
She explained that education should not be limited to academic performance but should also develop intellectual abilities, values, emotions and practical skills.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, said the intervention was part of broader efforts to support deserving young Nigerians.
He disclosed that 21 tertiary institution students had also received financial awards, comprising 14 students from Tai Solarin University of Education, six from Babcock University and one from Mountain Top University.
Speaking after receiving the support, Joshua thanked Senator Tinubu for recognising his talent and investing in his education.
He urged other young people to identify their passions, pursue them diligently and continue developing their talents.
