IDARIKA KINGDOM LAUNCHES MAIDEN SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME, EMPOWERS 30 STUDENTS

By: Ogunleye Oluwapelumi
The Idarika Kingdom in Iperu, Ogun State, witnessed a historic event on Saturday, January 18, 2025, as the Akufon of Idarika, Alayeluwa Oba (Sir) Olugbenga J. Shomade (Igundaniyan III), launched the maiden edition of the Idarika Kingdom annual scholarship scheme. The initiative, targeted at the less privileged in the kingdom, aims to assist them in their education and empower them for a brighter future.
The event, held at the Idarika Square, Iperu, was attended by chiefs of Idarika Kingdom, political personalities, and happy parents and children from the kingdom. The scholarship scheme, which benefited 30 indigent students, offered cash prizes ranging from N100,000 to N50,000. Additional cash prizes were also awarded to students who displayed intelligence and smartness in various game sections played during the event.
In his address, the Akufon of Idarika, Alayeluwa Oba Olugbenga Shomade, expressed his gratitude to his friends, both in Nigeria and the diaspora, for their contributions to making the scholarship a reality. He also reiterated that the support he received from the children of Idarika during his coronation in 2024 was a significant motivation for him to give back to the community in a meaningful way.
“The people of Idarika stood by me during my Coronation in 2024. They all displayed a high sense of support, and I’m genuinely grateful for that. My desire to also see that children in the community get educated is a driving force for me. Education is important, and its impacts cannot be overemphasized,” the king said.
Oba Olugbenga encouraged all beneficiaries to be thankful to God and ensure they take their education seriously, as seeing them succeed would be a great way to pay him back for his efforts. He emphasized that education is a vital tool for personal and community development, and he is committed to supporting the educational pursuits of the children in his kingdom.
The scholarship scheme was open to students from primary three to SS three, and beneficiaries were randomly selected through a ballot system. The king, however, promised that the scholarship initiative would become an annual event, with plans to expand its scope and reach more students in the future.
“The Idarika Kingdom annual scholarship scheme is poised to play a significant role in empowering the next generation of leaders and change-makers” Oba Shomade concluded.