March 29, 2019

Scholarship

Otuocha (Anambra), March 28, 2019 A Non-Governmental Organisation, the Onyebuchi Chris Ifediora (OCI) Foundation, on Thursday awarded scholarships to 35 indigent secondary school students in Anambra to encourage them in their studies.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the beneficiaries were selected from various schools in the agrarian Anambra East, Anambra West and Ayamelum Local Government Areas of the state.

Presenting the awards at Otuocha, headquarters of Anambra East local government area, OCI Founder, Dr Chris Ifediora, explained that the 2019 beneficiaries consisted of 12 senior and 23 junior secondary school students.

Ifediora, who was represented by the foundation’s Domestic Liaison Officer, Mrs Imelda Emeka, said the organisation had so far awarded scholarships to 72 students since its inception in 2017.

He said eight other students in tertiary institutions had also benefitted from the foundation’s scholarship under the Cyfed Undergraduate Scholarships Scheme.

According to him, winners of the Ifedioramma Okafor Secondary School Academic Award (IFOMSSA) for senior secondary students were examined in four subjects namely, English Language, Mathematics, Biology and Civic Education.

Ifediora explained that the junior awards were strictly for the best students of Nsugbe community origin.

“The selection of these students was based on their performance at the IFOMSSA Challenge.

“From 2020, the entire public secondary schools in Otuocha zone will be part of the IFOMSSA Challenge and Award,” Ifediora disclose

NAN reports that each winner at the senior category received N30, 000 to cover their 2019 NECO and WASC registration fees while their junior counterparts received N5,000 each for junior WAEC.

He said the foundation had also introduced an award to cover Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) registration fees for winners at the senior category, who excelled in the examination.

“The essence is to encourage intelligent students who are mostly indigent from the area,” he stressed.

In a remark, the Acting Zonal Director of Education, Otuocha zone, Mrs Esther Okpoko, said the state government would continue to partner the foundation and others to impart the desired knowledge on students.

Okpoko, who commended the foundation for the gesture, said Gov. Willie Obiano had done a lot to promote and encourage education in the state.

In an interview, Mrs Victoria Ekwuoba, a widow and mother of six including one of the beneficiaries, commended the foundation for the scholarship.

“I had earlier borrowed money from my brother with the hope that when I harvest my crops and sell them, I will refund the money to him.

“But with this scholarship now, I can easily refund the money and face other needs of the home,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Lucky Odinaka from Community Secondary School, Nando, while commending and praying for their benefactor, promised to make him proud in their educational pursuits.

Copyright: NEWS NETWORK OF NIGERIA – https://nnn.com.ng/education/2019/03/28/ngo-awards-scholarships-to-35-indigent-students-in-anambra/