The Executive Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Hon. Tunbosun Haruna Aruwe, has charged beneficiaries of the council’s free Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms to strive for academic excellence and justify the opportunity by recording outstanding results in the forthcoming examination.

Speaking during the presentation of the forms to selected 500 students across Mushin, Aruwe described education as the most reliable pathway to personal growth and community development, urging the beneficiaries to remain focused and disciplined in their preparation.

According to him, the initiative was designed to remove financial barriers preventing brilliant but indigent students from accessing higher education.

“This opportunity has been given to you so that you can achieve your dreams through education. I want you to take your studies seriously, prepare very well and come back with good results that will make Mushin proud,” the chairman said.

Speaking with Mushines, Aruwe assured the students that the local government would continue to support them beyond the UTME stage, promising further assistance for those who secure admission into higher institutions.

“We are not only giving them the UTME forms; we will also support those who gain admission into higher institutions. In addition, the local government has arranged free tutorial classes at various centres within Mushin to help them prepare adequately for the examination,” he added.

Also speaking with Mushines, the Vice Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Hon. Semiu Karaole, described the initiative as a consistent effort by the council to promote access to higher education for students from less privileged backgrounds.

“This annual gesture by the council chairman is aimed at providing opportunities for indigent students to pursue higher education. It is part of our commitment to ensuring that financial challenges do not stop talented students from achieving their academic goals,” Karaole said.

Beneficiaries of the programme expressed appreciation to the chairman for the intervention and pledged to work hard to excel in the examination.

One of the students, Miss Mariam Adeyemi, said the support had relieved her family of a major financial burden.

“My parents were worried about how to pay for the UTME form, but Hon. Aruwe has made it possible for me and many others. I promise to study hard and come out with excellent results,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Master Ibrahim Lawal, described the initiative as a great motivation for students in Mushin.

“This opportunity means a lot to us. With the free tutorials and support from the local government, we are determined to pass the examination with good scores and make Mushin proud,” he added.

The Head of the Education Department in Mushin Local Government, Mrs. Odubotede Abolore, explained that the beneficiaries were selected after a rigorous screening process to ensure that only qualified and deserving students benefited from the programme.

“We carefully screened their O’level results before selecting them. The goal is to ensure that the support goes to students who have shown academic potential but may not have the financial means to obtain the UTME forms,” Abolore stated.