Foundation Covers WAEC Fees for 300 Underprivileged Students in Kwara

No fewer than 300 secondary school students from across Kwara State have benefited from the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) scholarship programme of the Muhydeen Okunlola Kayode Foundation.

The scholarship presentation ceremony took place on Saturday at the Offa Grammar School Auditorium in Offa Local Government Area, with beneficiaries selected from public secondary schools across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The foundation’s WAEC Scholarship is an annual initiative designed to expand access to education, promote academic excellence and ensure that financial challenges do not prevent students from sitting for the examination.

Speaking at the event, the foundation’s Executive Director, Saheed Lawal, said the number of beneficiaries was increased this year in line with the organisation’s continued commitment to education and youth development. He explained that the programme began in 2024 with support for 130 students, expanded to 200 beneficiaries in 2025, and has now reached 300 students statewide.

Lawal said the steady expansion reflects the vision of the foundation’s founder, Alhaji Muhydeen Okunlola Kayode, to ensure that no child is denied educational opportunities due to financial hardship. He added that the initiative goes beyond numbers, offering hope, motivation and confidence to students to pursue bigger aspirations, noting that education remains a powerful tool for societal change.

The 2026 scholarship programme, themed “Continuing the Journey, Lighting the Path to Brighter Futures,” forms part of the foundation’s broader efforts to support underprivileged students in Kwara State.

Delivering a lecture at the ceremony, the Director of Weakypedia Linchpin Consult and Educational Services, Aderemi Oladepo, praised the foundation for its consistency and urged beneficiaries to remain focused and disciplined. He encouraged students to value education as a lifelong asset and called on parents and guardians to support their children both academically and morally.

Also speaking, the proprietor of Lens Polytechnic and Lens University, Dr Azeez Yisa, represented by Akeem Dunmoye, advised the beneficiaries to justify the support by excelling in their examinations. He commended the foundation for its sustained support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, noting that private initiatives are vital in complementing government efforts in the education sector.

Parents, teachers and guardians at the event described Alhaji Kayode as a visionary community leader and applauded the consistency and positive impact of the scholarship scheme on access to education in the state.

Founded by philanthropist and education advocate Alhaji Muhydeen Okunlola Kayode, the MOK Foundation focuses on improving access to education through scholarships and other forms of support for indigent students in Kwara State. Education stakeholders at the event also stressed that philanthropic interventions are increasingly important in widening access to education amid rising examination and schooling costs