Ten students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, have been awarded scholarship by Etisalat for being outstanding in their studies.
They were among the recipients from 20 universities (10 students per school) that the company gave N100, 000 each as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Regional Manager of the firm, Mr. Seun Popoola, who presented the scholarship, said the awardees were picked on merit.
“To the winners, you have learnt that hard work pays, as we didn’t handpick anybody. We have strict rules attached to this award of Academic Excellence. Your GP has to be the best in your Department,” he said.
Popoola said that Etisalat would explore other avenues in which it could collaborate with the university.
He also disclosed that the firm is making arrangements for all its base stations to be 3G compliant in all tertiary institutions in the South-West geo-political zone before the end of the year.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Francis Oyebade thanked Etisalat for the gesture.
“We are very thankful to Etisalat for prioritizing partnership with our University to develop the academic potential of our students. I am convinced that Etisalat is a company that is worthy of forming a synergy with,” he said.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Oluyemisi Adebowale, who observed that the beneficiaries were all males, urged female students to work harder in order to benefit from the opportunity.
A representative of the awardees, Israel Adewoye, thanked the company for the gesture, saying that it would spur them to be more studious.
The beneficiaries include: David Adeolu (200-Level), Afolabi Peter (200-Level), Akinnawonu Olumide (200-Level) all from the Department of Physics and Electronics.