By Prosper Mene
Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, the First Lady of Ekiti State, today unveiled the Ekiti Female Students Empowerment Fellowship (EFSEF).
The program, launched at the Ekiti State Government House, seeks to support 500 outstanding female students across secondary and tertiary institutions in the state, providing scholarships, mentorship, and skill-building workshops to foster the next generation of female leaders.
The fellowship came at a pivotal moment for gender equity in Nigeria’s Southwest, where Dr. Oyebanji has long championed initiatives for vulnerable girls. “Education is the greatest equalizer, but for our girls, it’s often the hardest path to tread,” Dr. Oyebanji said during the unveiling ceremony. “This fellowship is more than financial aid, it’s a commitment to dismantling barriers, igniting ambition, and ensuring that every female student in Ekiti has the tools to lead, innovate, and thrive.”
The EFSEF, funded through a partnership between the Office of the First Lady, the Ekiti State Ministry of Education, and private sector donors, offers:
Full scholarships covering tuition, books, and exam fees for selected students from low-income families.
Mentorship pairings with accomplished women leaders, including alumni from the University of Ibadan and Ekiti State University, to guide participants in career development.
Workshops on digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and gender-based violence prevention, building on Dr. Oyebanji’s previous efforts like the distribution of school supplies to 400 vulnerable pupils in 2023 and advocacy for sex education in curricula.
A focus on STEM fields, with priority given to girls pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to address underrepresentation.
Eligibility targets female students aged 12–20 with strong academic records and demonstrated community involvement. Applications open November 1, 2025, via the official Ekiti State website, with selections announced by December 15.
Dr. Oyebanji’s passion for female education echoes her recent engagements, including an inspiring lecture at the University of Ibadan on October 6, 2025, where she urged students to view leadership as “action, responsibility, and vision.”
Earlier this year, she rallied against gender-based violence in schools and pushed for wider HPV vaccination coverage, vaccinating over 266,000 girls since May 2024 to protect adolescent health.
Guest speakers at the launch, including Prof. Joseph Ayodele from Ekiti State University, praised the initiative for creating “psychosocially safe environments” that enhance learning. Prof. Ayodele noted, “When girls feel supported, they not only excel academically but also build the confidence to challenge societal norms.”
Local stakeholders, such as the Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency, hailed the fellowship as a “holistic approach” integrating health, education, and empowerment. One beneficiary preview, 16-year-old Aisha from Ado-Ekiti, shared, “This means I can dream bigger—maybe become an engineer without worrying about fees.
With Ekiti State already boasting renovated school facilities and digital literacy training for thousands, EFSEF aligns with national goals for gender equality under the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It also responds to calls for inclusive education, as seen in Dr. Oyebanji’s 2024 address at Venite University, where she encouraged female students to engage in agriculture for food security.
