The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Students’ Engagement, Mr Sunday Asefon, has presented free JAMB registration forms to 500 students in Ado Ekiti.
The event, which took place at Fajuyi Hall beside the Ewi’s palace in Ado Ekiti, brought together the beneficiaries who received the free forms as part of Asefon’s initiative to support students and their parents.
In his address, Mr Asefon explained that his decision to sponsor the free JAMB registration was driven by a desire to give back to society and encourage young students to remain committed to their studies.
He emphasized that many parents struggle to afford the registration fees, saying the initiative is aimed at easing their burden.
He further highlighted the importance of the recently introduced student loan scheme by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, adding that students can only access the loan after securing admission into higher institutions, making the free JAMB forms a crucial step in helping them cross the first hurdle.
Mr Asefon also encouraged the beneficiaries to embrace the spirit of giving back, urging them to, in turn, assist underprivileged students in the future once they attain success, just as he is doing now.
He credited President Tinubu for giving him the platform to make a positive impact on students’ lives.
In addition to the free JAMB forms, Mr Asefon announced that five students who score the highest marks in JAMB among the 500 beneficiaries would receive full scholarships from their 100 level to their final year in their chosen institutions, while the top three candidates would be awarded laptops, courtesy of the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu.
Speaking on President Tinubu’s commitment to education, Mr Asefon hinted at ongoing policies that could lead to free school fees in the future.
He noted that if the student loan scheme had been available earlier, many students who dropped out due to financial constraints could have continued their education, assuring them that despite obstacles, President Tinubu’s administration is working tirelessly to make education accessible to all Nigerians.
The SSA to the President on Students’ Engagement urged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously, as their academic success would validate the initiative and encourage them to expand it and do more in the coming years.
Mr Asefon also promised to organize coaching centres to help the students prepare adequately for the JAMB examination, just as he prayed for their success and urged them to remain focused on their education to achieve greatness in life.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries’ parents, Mrs. Mary Aladetoyinbo expressed gratitude to Asefon for his thoughtful initiative.
Mrs Aladetoyinbo who acknowledged that the gesture would go a long way in alleviating the burden of many parents who could not afford the fees for their children, prayed for more success for Mr Asefon, urging him to sustain his efforts in supporting students.