In a bold demonstration of its commitment to education and community development, Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc has awarded bursaries worth ₦150,000 each to 56 indigent students drawn from its host and neighbouring communities in Edo State.
The initiative, unveiled during a presentation ceremony on Friday, forms part of the company’s 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme aimed at easing the financial burden on students from low-income families while promoting access to quality education.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Fidelis Olise, Okomu’s Communication Officer, emphasized that the bursary scheme reflects the company’s long-standing dedication to human capital development.
“This initiative reflects our company’s commitment to giving back and ensuring that students from our neighbouring communities have the opportunity to pursue education without undue financial strain on their parents or guardians,” Olise said.
According to him, the bursaries—amounting to ₦8.4 million in total—are a direct expression of the vision of the company’s Managing Director, Dr. Graham Hefer, whom he described as a leader passionate about uplifting communities through sustainable initiatives.
Beneficiaries Speak
Two of the awardees, Samonghan Perekeme Ernest from Okomu and Egbon Sonia Osasumwen from Udo, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the company. They pledged to use the funds judiciously and to make their communities proud through academic excellence.
The 56 beneficiaries were selected from a wide range of communities, including Owan, Ekpan, Uhiere, Irhue, Odiguetue, Odighi, Umokpe, Oke, Orhua, Madagbayo, Gbelebu, Gbole-Uba, Safarogbo, Okomu, Ofunama, Inikorogha, and Udo.
Beyond Scholarships: Strengthening Community Relations
In addition to the bursary awards, Okomu Oil Palm also organized a community relations training programme designed to foster dialogue and strengthen partnerships with neighbouring communities.
Olise explained that the engagement was aimed at enhancing collaboration and mutual understanding. Community representatives, in turn, lauded the initiative, describing it as “the oil that keeps the wheel of partnership and progress turning.”
A Legacy of Impact
The bursary scheme adds to Okomu’s growing list of CSR interventions, reinforcing its reputation as a socially responsible company that prioritizes education, empowerment, and sustainable development in Edo State.
