Philanthropist pays NECO fees for 1,246 Ondo community students, supports local businesses

Abroad-based philanthropist and indigene of Okeagbe in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Dr Sunday Olalere Oloruntobi, has paid the 2026 National Examinations Council (NECO) registration fees for all 1,246 registered students in the 20 public secondary schools across the local government area.

The Ondo State-born Oloruntobi also donated N1 million (one million naira) each to 105 people in the local government to support and promote local businesses in Okeagbe-Akoko.

According to his representative, Olumide Victor Aliu, the intervention is part of Dr Oloruntobi’s contributions to grassroots development.

The schools benefiting from the gesture include Ajuwa Grammar School, with 130 students; Eyooke School, with 30 students; Okeagbe High School, with 62 students; Comprehensive High School, Ikaramu, with 54 students; Irepodun High School, Irun, with 33 students; and Omolore High School, Irun, with 53 students.

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Others are Ahmadiya Grammar School, Ogbagi, 134 students; Comprehensive High School, Igashi, 16 students; Comprehensive High School, Erusu, 49 students; Ajiroke Tech School, Arigidi, 60 students; Otolomi High School, Ikaramu, 37 students; Ajuta High School, Ogbagi, 103 students; Ado-Igbo Grammar School, Afin, 28 students; Community Grammar School, Ajowa, 74 students; Comprehensive High School, Ajowa, 54 students; Okota School, Arigidi, 24 students; Iyamoye High School, Ese, 45 students; Akoko Anglican School, Arigidi, 146 students; Ilemopo High School, 85 students; and Anglican Grammar School, Irun/Ogbagi, 24 students.

“The gesture was meant to put smiles on the faces of our people and give back to the community where he was raised,” Aliu said.

He explained that the initiative is structured in phases. “The programmes as designed by Dr Oloruntobi are in three different phases. The first is the payment of the registration fees for NECO for all the registered students in all the 20 public secondary schools in the local government,” Aliu explained.

He added that the other phases include the payment of N1m each to 105 people to support and promote local businesses in Okeagbe-Akoko, totaling over N105m, and a monthly stipend of ⁠N10,000 for more than 100 elderly people and widows in Okeagbe-Akoko, amounting to N1m every month.

Speaking on the impact of the support, Aliu said the programme has eased the burden on parents, many of whom are subsistence farmers and traders living on modest earnings.

He described Dr Oloruntobi as a kind-hearted son of the local government who has not forgotten his roots.

“Dr Oloruntobi is an illustrious son of the local government. He is very much allied to the welfare of our people and decided to help ease the pains of our people. By embarking on these huge empowerment programmes in our local government, he has proved that we can develop the local communities by contributing our quota.”

Aliu added that Dr. Sunday Olalere Oloruntobi remains committed to community development and humanitarian initiatives in the local government.