The Federation of Oyo State Students’ Unions (FOSSU) has thrown its weight behind Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general election, describing his leadership as a model that deserves national adoption. The union also commended the Oyo State Government for the timely disbursement of bursary awards to final-year students, calling the intervention a critical investment in the state’s human capital.
The National President of FOSSU, Aare Ahmed Mufutau, made the announcement on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Conference Centre, Ministry of Education, Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan.
Mufutau praised the state government for opening the 2026 General Bursary Awards for final-year students of Oyo State origin in public higher institutions across Nigeria. He described education as a major driver of national development and emphasized that student welfare must remain central to government priorities. He also congratulated teachers on the recent World Teachers’ Day celebration.
He noted that the inclusion of final-year students in Colleges of Education in the bursary scheme was particularly commendable, stressing that students in their final year often face significant financial pressures, including research work, academic projects, clearance, and other graduation-related expenses.
Under the scheme, final-year Clinical, Aeronautics and Aviation students will receive ₦500,000 each, while university undergraduates will receive ₦200,000. Higher National Diploma (HND) students will get ₦150,000, and final-year NCE students will receive ₦100,000.
Mufutau disclosed that about 5,000 final-year students are expected to benefit from this year’s intervention, up from 2,600 beneficiaries recorded last year. He added that bursary payments of ₦500,000 have been consistently made to Oyo State indigenes in Law School for six consecutive years.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Makinde for approving the expansion of the bursary scheme and commended the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Hon. Victor Olojede, for his sustained engagement with students.
Mufutau urged eligible students to prepare their documents and register promptly when the portal opens on Monday, October 12, 2026, noting that registration will close on November 1, 2026. He warned students against patronising unofficial registration links and unverified information, advising them to rely solely on official channels for updates.
Declaring the union’s support for Governor Makinde’s presidential ambition, Mufutau said, “Someone who has done so much as Governor will definitely do better as President.” He added that FOSSU would mobilise support for Makinde and work towards his success in the 2027 election, stating that the declaration was made on behalf of Oyo State indigenous students and other indigenous bodies in the state.
Corroborating the union’s position, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Hon. Victor Olojede, said Makinde’s governance model in Oyo State would reset Nigeria if replicated at the national level. He listed the abolition of the ₦3,000 public secondary school fee, massive recruitment of teachers, distribution of learning materials, and the return of out-of-school children to classrooms as key achievements of the administration in the education sector.
“No student would have a reason not to be in school. This government loves Nigerian students at all levels, and your support for Engineer Seyi Makinde will not be swept under the carpet.
“We believe strongly that if Governor Makinde becomes President, we are going to reset Nigeria. This government has proved that we can support students,” Olojede said.
