The Oando Joint Venture (JV), consisting NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) /Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited (OERNL), in demonstrating its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), has launched the 2025/2026 applications for its Tertiary Scholarship Scheme. This initiative, targeted at both the JV’s Host Communities and the country at large aims to build the next generation of leaders by supporting the academic aspirations of undergraduates in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The scholarship application, which opened on Thursday, March 27, 2025, will close on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. It offers two categories of awards: The Host Communities Merit Award specifically for students who are indigenes of Oando’s host communities in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Imo States; and the National Merit Award open to students from across Nigeria, excluding Oando’s host communities, who are pursuing studies in Engineering, Geology, Geosciences, and Agricultural Sciences. This inclusive approach ensures that talented students from all over Nigeria have the opportunity to benefit from this program.
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must be registered full-time undergraduates in a Nigerian tertiary institution and be certified 100-level students at the time of application. The scheme explicitly excludes 200-level students and above, current beneficiaries of similar awards from other companies and agencies, and dependents of staff of Oando PLC and its subsidiaries.
This scholarship program underscores Oando’s unwavering commitment toinvesting in the future of Nigeria, particularly its host communities, and contributing to the development of the country’s human capital. By focusing one education, a cause the company is deeply passionate about and champions through its foundation, Oando Foundation, Oando aims to empower young people and equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed. The company views this as a crucial aspect of its social responsibility, fostering sustainable development.
The selection process includes an online aptitude test, which only shortlisted candidates will be contacted to take. Candidates must achieve a minimum of 50% in the aptitude test to be considered,and the results will be published on noticeboards in all Oando locations nationwide.
The Tertiary Scholarship Scheme, initiated by the Joint Venture in the 1992/1993 academic session, currently supports the education of over 350 beneficiaries. Its continuation, following Oando’s acquisition of the interests of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in August 2024, demonstrates the company’s steadfast belief in leaving its communities better than it met them and its role in nurturing Nigeria’s next generation.
As a proudly indigenous company with a Nigerian workforce, Oando recognizes that investing in quality education is paramount to developing the nation’s future talent pool. This scholarship program empowers young Nigerians with the tools they need to contribute to the country’s growth and prosperity.
The founder of the Habeeb Okunola Foundation, High Chief Dr. Habeeb Olalekan Okunola MON, OFR, has once again demonstrated his dedication to the welfare of the underprivileged. On March 30, 2026, he played host to a group of talented visually impaired students across tertiary institutions in Nigeria whom he is currently covering their tuition fees at the head office of CINI Holdings in Ikoyi, Lagos.
During the gathering, Okunola reaffirmed his commitment to using his God-given resources to uplift humanity through his foundation. According to him, true wealth is proven through empowerment, and supporting the education of visually impaired students ensures that knowledge remains accessible regardless of one’s circumstances.
Addressing the students directly, he said: “I am delighted to host you. I want you to know that my foundation will continue to cover your school fees and provide monthly stipends for your upkeep. Your disability does not diminish your right to education. With your talents, education becomes a platform to showcase your abilities. I am excited that instead of taking to the streets to engage in nefarious activities or begging, you have chosen to do something meaningful and sharpen your talents. Today is not just about support; it is about belief. We see you. We hear you. And we believe in your strength, your talent, and your future. Life may not always be easy. You may face moments where people doubt you or where the path feels difficult. But we want you to remember this: you are not alone. You matter. And you are capable of achieving more than you can even imagine right now.”
He further emphasized that he remains fully committed to consistently covering their tuition fees many of the students are enrolled in various tertiary institutions across the country while also ensuring their overall welfare.
“This support is not just financial,” he added. “It is a promise. A promise that for the rest of this year and beyond, you have the Habeeb Okunola Foundation standing with you, cheering you on, and investing in your journey. Use this opportunity well. Keep learning. Keep pushing. Keep believing in yourself, even on the hard days. One day, when you rise, when you succeed, remember to lift others just as you are being lifted today. We are proud of you. And we are excited to see all that you will become.”
Also present at the event was the founder of the Makemee Elegant Foundation, Mrs. Kehinde Adelaja, who expressed her gratitude to Chief Okunola for covering the students’ school fees and attending to their needs. She noted that if more wealthy individuals took on such responsibilities, Nigeria would be a better place.
“I am excited that you took time to host and dine with them,” she said. “This goes a long way in restoring hope. They did not choose to be in this situation, but seeing someone like you embrace them with love and care is rare. They deeply appreciate your kind gesture.”
During a lunch session held at his office, Chief Okunola further reiterated that philanthropy remains a core part of his lifestyle. He pledged to continue setting aside a portion of his business earnings to impact lives and bring relief to the downtrodden.
Nigerian street gospel minister Testimony Jaga has once again shown that his message goes beyond music, turning his recent birthday into a powerful outreach across multiple communities in Lagos.
To celebrate this day, Jaga took his Street Gospel Movement to the grassroots, reaching out to communities, vulnerable groups, and institutions with food, support, and words of encouragement.
The outreach covered several locations, including Oshokoya Community in Ketu, Oridilu Community in Ajegunle, Triple Passion Home Initiative (Optima), an orphanage home, Orile Moshalasi in Alagbado, Idiagbon Street (College Road, Ogba), Agege Pen Cinema, Ifelodun Street in Iju Ishaga, Odo Ogbe in Oniwaya, and Anifowoshe Community in Ikeja.
In a particularly notable stop, Testimony Jaga and his team also visited the National Association of Visually Impaired Students (UNILAG Chapter), where they shared resources and uplifted students, reinforcing his commitment to inclusivity and compassion.
The widespread outreach reflects the core of Testimony Jaga’s ministry—meeting people where they are and using every opportunity to spread hope. For him, the birthday was not just about marking another year, but about making a tangible impact in communities that often go unnoticed.
Coinciding with this act of service is the release of his new single, “Da Ti E Mo,” featuring Ola Best and Mike Abdul. The track blends vibrant street gospel energy with contemporary sounds, continuing the signature style that has made Testimony Jaga a standout voice in Nigeria’s gospel scene.
The song serves as both a celebration and a message mirroring the same spirit of gratitude, faith, and outreach that defined his birthday activities. Known for his energetic delivery and relatable storytelling, Jaga uses “Da Ti E Mo” to connect deeply with listeners while reinforcing his identity as a voice for the streets.
For fans and observers alike, this moment captures the essence of Testimony Jaga: an artist whose life, music, and mission are tightly woven together. His birthday outreach was not just an event; it was a reflection of purpose, proving once again that his impact extends far beyond the stage.
In a nation where access to quality education often hangs delicately between aspiration and affordability, philanthropist and businessman Nasiru Haladu Danu has once again stepped forward—not in search of applause, but driven by an enduring commitment to humanity. For the Sardaunar Dutse, philanthropy is not a gesture; it is a way of life, deeply woven into his identity.
Today, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, that compassion found powerful expression in Jigawa State as the Nasiru Haladu Danu Foundation officially launched a scholarship scheme for over 100 indigent students drawn from the state’s five emirates. It was not just the unveiling of a programme, but the ignition of hope for families whose dreams have long been constrained by financial limitations.
The colourful ceremony, held at the prestigious Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi Auditorium within Federal University Dutse, brought together academia, traditional institutions, and community leaders in a rare convergence of purpose. Leading the academic delegation was the Vice Chancellor, Ahmad Muhammad Gumel, alongside the Registrar, Abubakar Mijinyawa—both bearing witness to what many described as a defining intervention in the state’s educational journey.
At the heart of it all stood Danu, dignified yet deeply passionate, as he reaffirmed his belief in education as the cornerstone of any thriving society. His words carried both conviction and vision.
“Education is the bedrock of any prosperous society,” he declared. “Today we support these hundred students, but tomorrow, we intend to cast our nets wider.”
True to his forward-thinking philosophy, he unveiled plans to extend the initiative to primary school pupils—an ambitious move aimed at nurturing excellence from the earliest stages and ensuring a seamless educational progression.
The event also enjoyed the endorsement of the traditional institution, a testament to its cultural and societal significance. Muhammad Hamim Nuhu Sanusi, though unavoidably absent, was ably represented by a distinguished delegation led by the Chiroman Dutse, Bashir Nuhu Sanusi.
The gathering sparkled with the presence of eminent personalities, including Bashir M. Dalhatu, Mustapha Aminu, Adamu Aliyu Kiyawa, Wada Alhaji, Aliyu Ibrahim, and Aminu Sani Musa—each lending weight and prestige to the occasion.
Coordinating the initiative on ground was the foundation’s Jigawa State Coordinator, Nasiru Sani Musa, who ensured the seamless rollout of a programme designed to cover tuition and essential learning materials for its beneficiaries.
Beyond the ceremony’s elegance and high-profile attendance lies a deeper narrative—one of impact. Across communities, the initiative has been hailed as a timely lifeline, easing financial burdens on families while rekindling belief in the transformative power of education.
For Danu, however, this is only the beginning. And if his track record is anything to go by, the ripple effects of this gesture will travel far beyond the classrooms of Jigawa—shaping futures, restoring dignity, and quietly redefining what it means to give.