Corps Member, Abiodun Awoniyi Pays School Fees for 21 Students, Champions AgriTech, Others

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Abiodun Awoniyi, a Corps Member in Abuja, is making education more affordable and attractive through his personal community development service (CDS) projects. He recently paid school fees for twenty-one students, shared writing materials, and also planted AgricTech in the minds of these youngsters. 

What is next up in Abiodun’s sleeve? Find out in this article, and also get to hear from the horse’s mouth in an exclusive interview.

Abiodun Awoniyi while in Camp

Education, they say, is the key to success; however, this success driver is now so expensive that many Nigerians cannot afford it. To better understand the context, the giant of Africa holds the title of the highest number of out-of-school children globally.

UNICEF Nigeria reports that about 10.5 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 years are not in school. It gets even worse in the northern part of the country, where the net attendance rate is about 53%.

Getting more out-of-school children into classrooms is very difficult as the nation grapples with poverty, inflation and insecurity.

Amidst these issues also lies unemployment, which makes education look less appealing. Recently, Nigerian streamer, Peller, advertised the role of a cameraman with a master’s degree qualification. He got over twenty applications. This shows how unappealing the face of education is becoming in Nigeria.

But just like in the words of J.R.R. Tolkien:

"From the ashes, a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring"

While others are ‘streaming’ the unappealing nature of Nigeria’s education sector and milking it as content, comes the light: Abiodun Awoniyi, who is doing just the opposite.

Abiodun, a Corps Member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, serving in the Federal Capital Territory, carried out three phases of personal community development service (CDS) centered on education and agriculture sectors.

The first phase of his CDS was changing the narrative around agriculture. He began a sensitization campaign at the Government Secondary School, Kubwa, where he created a picture of how technology can be integrated into farming to students, and in the process, introduced them to the term AgriTech.

Abiodun Awoniyi sharing writing materials to students

Abiodun further challenged the stereotype of agriculture as a “dirty man’s job” and revealed the endless benefits that come with a decent and honest job, especially with the rebranding of fraudulent crimes such as 'yahoo-yahoo'.

To better cement this picture of AgriTech in the mind of these students, he shared custom-designed pamphlets on AgriTech and other writing materials, and also laid out sustainability plans through the school’s Farmers Club. All these were to ensure the conversation continues even after his visit.

For the second phase, Abiodun visited Junior Secondary School, Baupma in Dutse. Again, the message was clear, but the volume was louder. Agriculture is a future of opportunity, not struggle.

Abiodun Awoniyi addressing students during the sensitization campaign 

The positive feedback from the students and heartfelt gratitude from the principal and staff confirmed the relevance of this message. Exercise books, pens and educational pamphlets were also shared to reinforce the message beyond the event.

For the last phase, Abiodun did the unimaginable. Despite the limited resources, to put it in numbers, the N77,000 stipends being paid by the NYSC scheme, he was able to pay the school fees of 21 students who risk dropping out of school at Junior Secondary School, Guto in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Abiodun Awoniyi handing out school fees to students

One of the lucky students who caught my attention was a young girl who was displaced by insurgency in Benue State, now living in the community and striving to stay in school.

A cross-section of Abiodun Awoniyi with students holding their school fees and staff

Abiodun’s intervention was driven by the rising number of out-of-school children and its ripple effect on youth crime, insecurity and lots more. According to him, it was not just about financial help, but was about giving hope.

Curious to know how Abiodun funded his project and how he was able to run all these personal CDS during his service year? We interviewed the man of the moment. Here is how the interview went.

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Exclusive Interview with Abiodun Awoniyi

1. Who is Abiodun Awoniyi?

Abiodun Awoniyi is a graduate of Agriculture from Bayero University, Kano. I’m a passionate advocate for agricultural innovation and youth empowerment, currently serving under the National Youth Service Corps in Abuja. I'm deeply committed to using education and technology as tools to solve societal challenges particularly in agriculture and access to opportunities. This passion inspired me to introduce AgriTech into secondary schools, to open young minds to possibilities beyond the traditional classroom.

 

Abiodun Awoniyi in the NYSC's 6/7 attire

2. Your personal CDS projects were centered on education and agriculture sectors. Why are you so passionate about these sectors?

My passion for education and agriculture comes from a strong belief that both are key drivers of sustainable national development. I focused on education because it shapes mindsets early and equips young people to make informed life decisions. During my school years, many of us lacked proper guidance, which led to misaligned career paths. I wanted to change that for others by reaching out to secondary school students with the right information and exposure.

Agriculture, on the other hand, is a vital but often neglected sector. I see agriculture as a sleeping giant, an industry filled with potentials to create jobs, solve food insecurity and drive sustainable development. Sadly, many youths see it as outdated or unattractive but through AgriTech, it offers vast opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and food security. My goal was to help students see agriculture in a new light, as a tech-driven, future forward industry they can be proud to join.

Bringing both sectors together allowed me to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation with tools for lasting change.

Ultimately, my CDS was not just about activities, it was about planting seeds of transformation. These sectors reflect my believe in long-term, sustainable impact, and I'm proud to have used my NYSC year to contribute meaningfully in both. 

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3. Despite not being an indigene of Abuja, why did you choose to carry out your personal CDS there instead of your hometown?

That’s a good question. I’m an indigene of Kogi State, but I believe that meaningful impact should begin from wherever you are. I was posted to Abuja for my service year, and I noticed pressing educational needs in the local schools. I saw that as an opportunity to contribute. Innovation shouldn’t be limited by geography. When you impact lives where you are, that influence can ripple across other regions. That mindset inspired my decision to act here.

 

4. And now, the question most people would love to know, how were you able to fund your projects?

Funding wasn’t easy at the beginning, but once the vision became clear, support started to come in. I reached out to individuals and organizations who believed in the project. My principal sponsor, Barr. Iverine Tomori of OliveVine Attorneys, was instrumental. Organizations like Fast Trade Exchange and others also supported the initiative. These sponsors partnered with me because they saw the value and potential impact of the project. Others contributed in small but significant ways, and all of it added up.

 

5. Do you have any regrets with the project? Is there anything you wish you had done differently?

No regrets at all. If there’s anything I would have done differently, it’s starting earlier. I had more projects in mind but was constrained by time. NYSC is just one year, and with the tight schedule, I had to scale down some of my plans. So yes, I wish I had more time, but I’m grateful for what I achieved within the period.

 

6. Any advice for your fellow Corps Members out there who are thinking of carrying out a personal CDS?

First, I’d say go for it! Don’t be discouraged by challenges like funding or time constraints. Once your vision is clear and your project is meaningful, sponsors and stakeholders will support you. From my experience, balancing time was the biggest challenge, between my PPA, my CDS group (Red Cross), personal CDS, and daily life. But with planning, it’s possible. So start early, be intentional, and don’t let your primary assignment suffer. Make sure your project meets a real need, and the rest will fall into place.

 

7. Any advice for the students you empowered? Especially those you introduced to AgricTech.

Yes, start small and grow big. AgriTech is vast, and I only introduced them to a few areas. There are countless opportunities to explore. I encouraged them to keep learning; read books, watch educational content, and seek knowledge. Don’t feel limited by your background or current situation. I supported some of them with school fees and materials to inspire them, but the real power lies in their hands. Their future is bright if they stay focused and keep pushing.

 

8. I think I can now call you a stakeholder in the education sector (laughs). So what would you advice the government to do, regarding making education more affordable and accessible?

The government needs to invest more in rural education, upgrade infrastructure, provide basic learning materials, and introduce skill-based extracurricular programs. Many students drop out not because they lack interest, but because they can’t afford school. We must change that. Education should be appealing and accessible to all. I also believe in a bottom-up approach: start from the grassroots to create long term national impact.

 

9. What is next for Abiodun Awoniyi? Where do you see yourself in five years? 

In five years, I see myself expanding my work in agricultural innovation and community development. I want to lead initiatives that tackle food security, promote sustainable agriculture, and empower youth across Africa. My goal is to create lasting impact not just in education and agriculture, but in communities that need it the most. I’m not limited to NYSC or Abuja, this is just the beginning.

Thank you for this opportunity to share my journey. I hope it inspires others to take action and be the change they wish to see.

 

Thank you for your service, Abiodun, from all of us at StudyinNaija.

If you want to share your story as well, do well to CONTACT US.