By Samuel Ogude
Ovu Foundation, a Non- governmental organization has presented scholarship awards to learners in T.E.A.Salubi Primary School, Oviore Ovu Inland in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state. The beneficiaries of the awards are Miss Miracle Linus who is given full scholarship in the secondary school (for this year), Miss Dorothy Efe and Miss Amaka Dominion who are already on the foundation’s scholarship since 2021 and 2022 respectively to continue to enjoy the foundation’s scholarship.
Speaking at the occasion, the President of the Ovu Foundation, Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh said the foundation has many agenda for humanity saying, one of its agenda is education programme meant to support indigent children in about 12 schools in Ovu community. His words:”The foundation is an NGO which gives education support to indigents children in Ovu community”.
Professor Rim-Rukeh who said the foundation has been doing this scholarship for over 13 years ago said, apart from those on scholarship, by the month of September this year (2023) when schools resume, they are going to provide exercise books for the learners to aid their education. According to him, the foundation did reading completion for the learners some years ago adding ,this year’s is not an exception as they are able to get the best brain through this exercise. He said to get the best brain, the foundation conducts examination for them and pick out the best for the scholarship. He added that they also visit the school without their notice and if they see that any learners whose school uniform is torn, they replace it(them) for such a learner(s).
Speaking in the same vein, the Secretary of Scholarship Committee, Professor Alphonsus Isara said the foundation carries out this in order to stimulate reading competition among the learners adding that the foundation is doing this in order to lift the burden of parents training their children from them. He said:” The foundation aimed at stimulating reading culture and competition among the learners”.
According to him, for the foundation to get learners for the scholarship, the Committee sets examination questions for the learners in primary six based on what they have been taught and pick out the best from all of them adding, that for the learners to continue to enjoy the scholarship scheme, he or she must always obtain the minimum of score of 60%(B) in the cumulative average of the three terms in each academic session.
His words: There are conditions attached to the scholarship: for the learners to continue to enjoy the scholarship, he or she must be able to maintain the average of 60% in every academic session”. They therefore congratulated the learners especially the ones who are able to maintain the scholarship and charged them not to relent in studying their books in this regard.
They also charged the parents of the beneficiaries of the scholarship to encourage their children to put in their best in order for them to continue to enjoy the scholarship.
On her part, the Headmistress of the school (T.E.A. Salubi Primary School, Oviore Ovu Inland), Dr. Mrs Ataine thanked the foundation for a good job as they have not only stimulated the learners into imbibing reading culture but they made them to be focused in their academics. Dr. Mrs Ataine who was represented by the Assistant Head teacher, Mr Peter Akponemu prayed for the foundation to continue to excel their endeavours just as he urged them to continue with the work in this direction.
In their response, the mother of learner for this year’s scholarship award, Mrs Rejoice Ofoegbu who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries’ mothers, expressed gratitude for the foundation for the gesture just as she prayed for God’s blessings, favour and good health for the sponsors of the foundation. Not left out are the beneficiaries: Miss Miracle Linus, Miss Dorothy Efe and Miss Amaka Dominion. The trio thanked the organization for the scholarship and promised to always put in their best to continue to enjoy the foundation’s scholarship. The highpoint of the programme was the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries amidst cheers.