The Nation Newspaper

Tag: scholarship

  • EKSU Pro-Chancellor gives scholarship

    A Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, has given out scholarship to 40 indigent students who hail from Ise Ekiti in Ise/Orun Local Government Area and are in tertiary institutions.

    Each of the students got N50,000 from the sponsor who instituted the scholarship in memory of his father, the late Arinjale of Ise Ekiti, Oba Adeyeye Agunsoye II (1932-1976).

    Adeyeye, a former Minister of State for Works, said the take off of the scheme was to mark the 40th memorial of his father and keep his good deeds alive.

    He said: “This year marks 40 years of the transition of my father. He died when I was in Part One in the university and I was privileged to graduate at the age of 21.

    “We can as well invite King Sunny Ade to mark the 40th anniversary of his demise but the best I can do is to institute this scholarship scheme for 40 students. It is not for this year only; they will continue to enjoy it till they finish their university education.

    “My education was financed by my mother because I was very young when my father died. I want to state that this scholarship was not given on partisan basis because the criterion was obtaining the form and not based on politics, association or family.”

  • Kano overseas scholarship: Parents lament neglect of wards

    Parents of 154 fresh graduates who were sponsored by Kano State to study in India have lamented the untold hardship inflicted on them by the immediate past administration of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who abandoned them and refused to pay their tuition fees.

    Speaking during a reception organised by the state government in honour of the graduates who just passed out after gaining their masters from India on Tuesday, a representative of their parents, Muhammad Mustapha, recounted how Kwankwaso’s administration abandoned them abroad.

    He, however, hailed Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for coming to their rescue by clearing all the backlog of the debts as well as ensuring that the students graduated without problems.

    Ganduje revealed that last year the state paid N2.7 billion for the tuition and other fees of her foreign students despite the economic recession in the country that forced some states to recall their students on government scholarship abroad.

    He reassured that the government would maintain the foreign scholarship for beneficiaries because of the importance his administration attaches to education.

    Ganduje, who lamented that the state’s allocation from the Federal Government had dropped by two-thirds, said himself and all political appointees in the state, now receive half salaries and allowances, to save money to address issues in critical sectors like education.

    “Therefore, this administration would do all it can to sustain and finance the foreign based students to complete their studies, through  efficiently managing the little we receive form the federation account as well as money accruing from internal revenue,” he said.

    Ganduje advised the graduates and others on scholarship not to allow mischievous politicians to use them against his administration, reiterating that the fees paid by the previous government for their education was from the public treasury not anybody’s personal pocket.

    “Nobody did a favour to you by paying for your studies in the first instance. We, that sustained the scholarship, did so with public funds; it is not a favour. We also studied under government scholarship so what is the big deal about it?” the governor queried.

    He commended the graduates for showing understanding to the state’s financial situation as well as for appreciating made different challenges with little earnings, compared with what obtains in the past years, promising to help secure jobs in public and private sectors.

  • EBSU physically challenged students to get scholarship

    Succour has come to physically Challenged Students of Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, as past union leaders have concluded arrangements to place them on scholarship from this month.

    The scholarship will be sponsored by the Forum of Past Students Union Government (SUG) Presidents of EBSU.

    The President of the forum and the 2011-2012 SUG President of the institution, Onyekachi Daniel, disclosed this in Abakaliki when the group visited the Acting Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University, Prof Francis Idike, at the university’s Permanent Site in Ezzamgbo.

    Daniel, a lawyer, explained that the forum was formed with the aim of giving back to their alma mater.

    He extolled the VC for his achievements in areas of infrastructure, academics as well as students’ and workers’ welfare.

    Daniel explained that the visit was to tell the VC that the forum was ready to partner with him and the school towards the advancement of the institution.

    He urged the VC to ensure that the school keyed into the agriculture policy of both the Federal and state government by ensuring that no plot of land is left fallow, advising that every student be given a portion of land to cultivate.

    “We have come together as a body to see how we can give back to this great university which has done so much for    )us. As you can see all of us are already doing well in our various fields courtesy of the rich impact this school made on us.

    “By next year, we will start by offering scholarships to physically challenged students in this university. We will also be volunteering useful contributions, advice and information to you and the entire management of this great school to ensure that this school is rated among the best in this country. We also appeal to you to use your good office to ensure that this institution keys into the agricultural policy of the current governments,” he said.

    In response, Idike said the institution was ready to relate and interact with its former students and commended the former presidents for the impact they made during their times in the school.

    He said the forum would be very helpful not only to the alumni of the university but also in building up the students of the institution.

  • 41 indigent pupils get scholarship

    41 indigent pupils get scholarship

    At just N7,000 per term, Bridge International Academy charges one of the lowest fees for primary education in Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial nerve-centre.

    Its fees are highly-subsidised by its founders whose aim is to make quality education accessible to children from deprived families at affordable rate.

    However, some indigent families still cannot afford to pay the fees.

    Such is the case of Fathia Jamiu, seven, who attends Shibiri’s branch of the Bridge Academy in Ojo Local Government Area.

    Her father allegedly abandoned her and her two siblings when she was four, leaving the burden for their education and upkeep for her mother, Aminat, who does not have means of livelihood, to bear alone.

    To raise Fathia’s fees at the Bridge Academy last year, Mrs Jamiu had to do menial jobs. However, when the new session started in October, she could not pay.

    Unlike Fathia, David and Destiny live with their parents who are out of jobs. Their father, Mr Samuel Ibologun, struggles daily to provide their basic needs.  It is an herculean task paying about N20,000 per term for his three children attending the Bridge Academy.

    He defaulted in payment for this term and has no hope of paying for David and Destiny in January.

    With the economic recession biting hard, many indigent families who have children in the school resorted to installmental payment of the fees.

    Luckily, OMMA Comfort Fund, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has come to the rescue of Fathia, David, Destiny, Oyinkansola and 37 others selected from all branches of the Bridge Academy scattered across six local government areas of Lagos State.

    The children have been offered scholarship.

    Though the beneficiaries were not selected based on academic performance, Mrs Adesuwa Ifedi, a Senior Adviser at the Bridge Academy, said they are exceptional children academically.

    Explaining how the beneficiaries were selected, Debbie Akwarra, the Academy’s Community Experience Director, said: “In the course of our team’s engagement with parents in the communities, we discovered that there were many families facing challenges affecting the education of their children. After we identified those families, we presented their cases to corporate organisations that support education. Families with critical conditions are identified and supported with the scholarship.”

    Chief Executive Officer, OMMA Comfort Fund, Mrs Bunmi Ajani Lawson, said the organisation gave the scholarship because education remains critical for the nation to move out of recession.

    Mrs Lawson, who was honoured with the Bridge Academy Champion Award for the gesture, said she believed it was only education that could lift the downtrodden out of poverty. She noted that two schools were shortlisted for the scholarship, adding that Bridge Academy was picked for its quality and affordability.

    She said: “We believe education would have lasting transformation effect on low-income families. I feel that if we provide education to indigent children and support their families, they have chances to move out of poverty.”

    Mrs Lawson, who is the Managing Director of Accion Microfinance Bank and a member of the academy’s Advisory Board, said her organisation’s education goals were in line with the Bridge Academy’s objectives, which was why the NGO did not hesitate to give the pupils the scholarship.

    Mrs Jamiu fought back tears when she got her daughter’s scholarship letter. Save for the scholarship, she said she had contemplated stopping Fathia from going to school, because she had no hope of getting money to pay her fees.

    She said: “Fathia was four years old when my husband abandoned me and three children. I struggled to enroll her in school, because I don’t have a job. It was my mother who borrowed money to pay the enrolment fee. Things are tough for me and my children since I cannot get job with my NCE qualification. But, I cannot imagine seeing my children at home during school hours. That is why volunteered to be doing menial jobs at the school.”

     

  • Pupils get Ajasin’s Foundation scholarship

    Five pupils of Owo High School, in Ondo State have won the Adekunle Ajasin Memorial Scholarship (AAMS).

    The AAMS, courtesy of Ajasin’s Foundation, was pioneered by Dr. Bode Ogunleye, an old student of Owo High School who at present lives in the United States of America (U.S.A). The initiative is therefore in memory of the late Adekunle Micheal Ajasin, who was a former principal of the school and former Governor of Ondo State.

    The event which is the second edition honoured the deserving students with a certificate, cash prizes and Ajasin Scholar’s pin.

    The five awardees, adjudged for emerging best in their various classes were; Salaudeen Raimot (JSS 2), Alfred Funmilayo (JSS 3), Lawrence Israel (SSS 1), Adetula Lekan (SSS 2) and Fadairo Olarenwaju (SSS 3).

    The ceremony was hosted by the school principal Chief Adekunle Aladeseye before a crowd of students, teachers, parents, old students, community representatives and members of Ajasin Foundation to round off the first term.

    Aladeseye appreciated the foundation for the initiative which to him is geared towards encouraging and inspiring other students to achieve greatness in life.

    He urged other old students to toe Ogunleye’s steps by remembering their alma-mater and assisting the school’s growing population which he currently put at over 2,500.

    Presenting the awards, secretary of the foundation, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose, congratulated the awardees and their parents, advising the former not  to rest on their oars. He urged them to continue to excel and not drop from their current status.

    “I am surprised that the recipients of last year awards are not the same set of students this year. Awardees should not make it an once-and-for- all affair, but continue tobe the best always.

    “I wish to add that an annual award of N100,000 goes to the best graduating student upon admission into a post secondary institution. The award is renewable yearly as long as the awardee maintains a performance  not lower than second class upper division.”

    Seven teachers of the school also received awards and certificates.

    They include:  Femi Ogunsola; Tope Ojo, Mrs. Oluwajobi R.T, Mr. Tenabe C.T, Mr. Aladekoyi O.G, Mr. Ologunye O.K and Mr. Arogundade Segun.

    Also in attendance were a member of Ajasin Foundation Mrs. Waleola Okunrinboye, national president of Owo High School Old Students Association, Rev. Canon Oladimeji, as well as Chief Remi Okunrinboye.

     

  • 33 UNIZIK students get scholarship to study Chinese

    33 UNIZIK students get scholarship to study Chinese

    The partnership between the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) and the Chinese Xiamen University has recorded another milestone. Thirty-three students of Confucius Institute built in UNIZIK were offered scholarship for Master’s degree in Chinese language.

    This Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Joseph Ahaneku disclosed this during the Christmas party organised by Nnamdi Azikiwe University Women Association (NAUWA).

    The VC, who recently returned from China, described the development as “good news”, saying: “Out of 40 million students studying Chinese worldwide, only 74 were measured up for the scholarship. Of the 74, Africans had 38. UNIZIK students got 33 scholarships.”

    Prof Ahaneku said the university emerged the best Confucius Institute among the 16 universities affiliated to Xiamen University. According to the VC, it is the third time UNIZIK is achieving the feat.

    He said: “I am excited that our administration has worked hard to keep the university name on the world map. It is soaring high globally.”

    The VC enjoined the staff to remain diligent in discharging their duties, urging them to support the management’s drive towards giving the school global visibility.

  • Scholarship: 206 savour Olanipekun’s generosity

    Scholarship: 206 savour Olanipekun’s generosity

    His belief that education engenders revival, freedom and emancipation informs his resolve to help brilliant but indigent students. To achieve this, he established the Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme (WOSS) to ensure that students in need of funds to continue their academic careers received help.  ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports that Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), gave scholarships to 206 students during this year’s edition of the 20-year-old scheme. 

    Legal luminary and one-time President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Oluwole Oladapo Olanipekun (SAN), believes that education is a weapon against poverty and its attendant societal problems.

    Consequent to this belief, he accords education the most important position in his scheme of things. He has devoted enormous resources to the education sector to ensure that his people are free from the encumbrances of illiteracy and poverty.

    Apart from education contributing enormously to the enviable status he had attained in his profession and in the society, Olanipekun is also passionate about brilliant but indigent students whose ambitions are threatened by paucity of funds.

    In his over 40 years of practice at the Bar; he had ploughed back his God-given wealth to education in terms of sponsoring thousands of less-privileged students in their academic careers and building infrastructure in most of the nation’s tertiary institutions.

    While practising at Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, his rented chambers along Unity Road and God’s Grace Chambers; the one he built along University Road in Tanke area, used to play host to hundreds of students who are indigenous to Ekiti State and those from other parts of the country who needed financial support.

    By the time he relocated to Lagos in 2002 where he currently has the headquarters of his law firm, Olanipekun’s support for education had grown in leaps and bounds and he seems not tired of giving succour to students who are in need.

    That explains the motivation behind the establishment of the Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme (WOSS) in 1996 to assist students to realise their dreams of becoming great personalities.

    Initially, the scheme was established to assist students who are indigenous to Olanipekun’s hometown, Ikere-Ekiti. However, as it develops over the years, it has incorporated beneficiaries from the other 15 local government areas of Ekiti State and other parts of the country.

    Thousands of students in secondary schools, universities and Nigerian Law School had benefited from the scholarships given out every year by the WOSS Principal, Olanipekun.

    The case of a student who is not indigenous to Ikere-Ekiti who benefited from this year’s edition, Hameed Oyekanmi Ajibola, was peculiar. Mr Ajibola, who hails from Oyo State and a law graduate of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), could not raise funds to further his career at the Nigerian Law School.

    Just two days before the scholarship award ceremony, he was nominated by a member of WOSS Board of Trustees, Dr. Gani Adeniran. He had earlier known Adeniran two weeks before then. Olanipekun had told Adeniran, a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, to get a Muslim from Oyo State to be among the 14 beneficiaries of the scheme for the Nigerian Law School for this year’s edition.

    Ajibola, who had never met Olanipekun before, had to travel to Ikere on the day of the ceremony to receive his cheque. He was overwhelmed and prayed profusely for the sponsor.

    Ajibola said: “I  got your (Olanipekun’s) message from Dr. Gani Adeniran who happens to be my referral in respect to the financial support you have rendered to me, sir.

    “I use this opportunity to show my sincere appreciation and to say a thank you for your helping hand. May the Almighty God ease all your affairs and enrich you the more sir. I am most grateful, sir.”

    There was a story of the best graduating Law student at the University of Ilorin about 10 years ago who benefited from Olanipekun’s gesture. After graduating from the Law School, he was too poor to buy his wig but was assisted by the Senior Advocate.

    WOSS brings together stakeholders in education every year at Olanipekun’s country home, Iyaniwura House, along Moshood Road in Ikere-Ekiti.

    Olanipekun, a man renowned for his modesty and humility, rolled out the drums this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his scholarship scheme. He was joined by members of the WOSS Board of Trustees led by renowned educationist and retired school principal, Mr. Sunday Omoyeni.

    Dignitaries who attended this year’s edition of the scheme were the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado, Agirilala Ogbenuotesoro II; Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola; former Deputy Governor, Chief Abiodun Aluko; Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka; Chairman, Ikere Local Government Area, Mr. Ola Alonge; member representing Ikere Constituency 1, at the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Wale Ayeni; Commissioner for Education, Mr. Jide Egunjobi and Prof. Toyin Bamisaye, among others.

    As part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the scheme, Olanipekun donated customised exercise books to all public primary and secondary schools in Ikere-Ekiti.

    A total of 206 students received scholarships in this year’s edition and the breakdown are as follows: beneficiaries in Ikere secondary schools (155); undergraduates who hail from Ikere Local Government Area (24); undergraduates from other LGAs in Ekiti (13) and special recipients from Ekiti, other states and Law School (14).

    Chairman of the occasion who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Olayinka, described Olanipekun as a colossus who performed wonders while serving as the Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the nation’s premier university.

    Olayinka said: “He (Olanipekun) paid great attention to details as UI Pro-Chancellor.

    “He built a lecture theatre for the Faculty of Law at UI.

    “Wole Olanipekun is a gift to humanity. When he became Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, he funded the building of the V-C’s Lodge.”

    The Ogoga, Oba Adu, described Olanipekun as a “rare and special gift to Ikere land, urging the beneficiaries to reciprocate by working hard to make the best grades in their studies.

    The monarch said: “During my primary school days, I knew five pupils in my school who were very brilliant but never had the opportunity of proceeding to secondary school because of financial constraints.

    “This scheme has clocked 20 years and we have many people who had become great through the benevolence of Asiwaju. This man funds the scheme with his personal resources and I want you to repay him by justifying what he has given to you.”

    Deputy Governor, Dr. Olusola, described Olanipekun as a mentor and leader, saying it was not a surprise that the Ogoga recently bestowed on him the chieftaincy title of the Asiwaju of Ikere.

    He said: “This gesture is the mark of a quintessential leader having key projects on all the roads that lead to the centre of Ikere. His philanthropic activities go beyond the borders of Ikere.

    “Those of us coming behind you are now challenged to contribute our own quota to the development of this town. To the beneficiaries, I want to advise you to be diligent in your studies, be serious with your studies and become great in life.”

    Commissioner for Education, Mr. Egunjobi, said Olanipekun’s gesture is worthy of emulation, noting that education is the only industry in the state and the gains made  in public examinations such as the National Examination Council (NECO) must be sustained.

    Olanipekun explained how the scheme began from a humble beginning to become an oasis that has been giving solace to students within and outside Ekiti where it began.

    He praised the WOSS Board of Trustees for being “methodical, clinical, focused and honest” in nurturing the master seed sown 20 years ago which has grown into an oak.

    Olanipekun said: “We started from a very humble beginning; we must not forget education which is the legacy of Western Nigeria that we all grew up to know.

    “Before we instituted the scheme, all students of Ondo State origin used to come to my chambers in Ilorin then saying ‘how do we pay our school fees?’ Ikere currently has 77 professors, how do we make future professors, deputy governors, governors and presidents out of them?

    “There is poverty in the land which affects the education of many children. I want to appeal most profoundly to the beneficiaries that when you grow up, look back to the less-privileged and assist them.

    “The government cannot do it all; the greatest thing you can be remembered for is not the wealth you accumulate but the lives you touch.

    “Education is our heritage but it is dehydrating, evaporating and dying. I want to appeal to our Law School beneficiaries to utilise what we gave to you by concentrating on your law studies.”

  • Orphan, 10, others get Akwa Ibom Speaker’s scholarship

    An orphan, Master Elisha Daniel, yesterday got a full scholarship from the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke, to cover his secondary education.

    Daniel, a primary six pupil in Eket, was among orphans and widows who attended the end-of-year thanksgiving organised by the state chapter of the Legislators Wives Association (LEWA).

    Elisha attracted the attention of the Speaker when he filed out with other orphans to receive cash donations and other items that LEWA provided.

    The Speaker, who was moved by the lad’s story, pledged to provide funds for his secondary education.

    Handing over his particulars to an aide of the Speaker, Daniel, a pupil of Holy Child Primary School at Idua Eket, hailed Luke for his gesture.

    The boy promised to work hard in school to justify the scholarship.

    LEWA President Uduak Onofiok Luke expressed gratitude to God for ensuring that members’ spouses impacted lives with their legislative engagements during the year.

    Mrs Luke said LEWA would continue to touch lives.

    She urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items they got.

    Seventy-eight widows and orphans from the 26 state constituencies of the state got cash donations, wrappers and food items.

  • Scholarship for ex-militants will bring peace, says VC

    Vice Chancellor of the Igbinedion University, Okada, Prof Eghosa Osaghea, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to scrap the scholarship programme for ex-militants in some private universities across the country.

    Osaghae said a total of 261 ex-militants who were beneficiaries of the Federal Government amnesty programme have graduated from the institution since 2015.

    Osaghea, who spoke at the 14th convocation of the institution, said the empowerment of Niger Delta youths through provision of quality education was critical to the resolution of conflicts in the region.

    He said the programmme should continue until the gains are consolidated.

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on his part said that Nigerians must embrace change and come up with innovative ideas capable of revolutionising the way they think and work for the country to move out of recession.

    Obaseki said the billions of naira spent by Nigerians to educate their children in foreign universities do not add value to the country’s economic growth in the short and medium term.

    He said Nigerians cannot continue to work at the level of the current economic challenges and expect solutions that can turn around its fortunes.

    The Edo governor said his administration would be driven by knowledge, data and established base lines.

    Obaseki said his administration is committed to reforming the education sector of the state with a view to creating knowledge-driven economy where Edo people can unlock their potentials.

    He said: “One of the key mid-term strategies to returning Nigeria to the path of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development is  reforming our education sector in such a manner that can unlock the creative potentials of our youths.

    “We must embrace change.We must come up with innovative ideas capable of revolutionising the way we think and work. One of the imperatives of my administration is to ensure that governance is driven by knowledge, data and established base lines.

    Honorary degrees were conferred on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, who was honoured with a doctorate degree in Law, Chairman of Egba Community, Pastor Osarenren Ighiwi and Group Managing Director of Nabegu Company, Alhaji Amina Nabegu.

    The institution’s College of Natural and Applied Science was named after the Ooni of Ife while one of the female hostels was named after his wife, Wuraola.

  • Foundation gives 50 scholarship grants

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Felix Anirah Foundation (FAF), has pledged to give scholarship grants to 30 primary and secondary school pupils.

    A statement by the foundation’s Media Officer, Shadrack Onitsha, said FAF would also give grants to 20 tertiary students as well as to 10 widows to start small businesses.

    The statement, which outlined the programme for the official launch of the foundation, said arrangement was in place for the ceremony to hold on December 9 at the Sapele Athletic Club in Delta State.

    The statement said: “The foundation will award scholarships to some indigent students and pupils: 10 from secondary schools and 20 from primary schools, for those who recently passed the examinations conduct to select successful candidates.

    “The foundation is also giving out grants to 20 students in tertiary institutions across the country, ranging from N50,000 to N100,000.

    “Also, 10 widows will be given financial grants …to enable them start up small businesses.”

    The foundation pledged to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged, especially by