Oghenruona Tejiri, Oviorie, Delta State
Ovu Foundation has presented cheque worth N250,000 scholarship award to Master Godswill Ohre, best graduating Primary School pupil in Ovu Communities of Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
Presenting the cheque, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun and President of Ovu Foundation called on children to cultivate reading culture to become successful in life.
Master Godswill Ohre of T. E. A. Salubi Primary School, Ovu Inland emerged winner of 2024 annual scholarship award.
Prof. Rim-Rukeh said that knowledge was hidden inside books adding that it was time for children to seek knowledge through reading and become successful.
The Vice Chancellor of FUPRE disclosed that the Foundation was established eleven (11) years ago adding that the objective was to provide educational materials to pupils in Ovu Communities in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
The President of the Foundation said that the organisation has provided school uniforms, distributed exercise books and other writing materials for the pupils yearly in the past.
Accordng to Prof. Rim-Rukeh, “we set today aside for the award ceremony in terms of scholarship.Our children should take their academic work seriously. The child that emerged winner today prepared for the examination.”
The erudite Professor added, “other children should emulate him by reading their books. A time has come where knowledge is hidden inside the books and that is where success is, so I appeal to our children not to see book and run away.”
” A recent incident happened in Kano State during the nationwide protest where a Library was attacked and no single book was carted away.
“So, we are moving out of that direction, it’s time to encourage our children to say yes to education and see it as an area of life which can actually advance them out of poverty.”
In his comments, Prof. Alphonsus Isara, Chairman, Scholarship Committee of the Foundation said that this scholarship was the fourth in the series for the Foundation.
Accordng to Prof. Isara, the Foundation has been giving out scholarships to individual pupils in the last four years adding that 10 primary schools within Ovu Communities competed for the award.
Prof. Isara said that the initiative was a way of giving back to the society, Ovu communities and also encouraging young ones to shun distractions and be more focus on their academics.
Prof. Isara spoke further, “we assist the winner in his or her secondary school education. You cannot tell what our scholars will be in future.”
The chairman of the Scholarship Committee disclosed that the Foundation does a follow up and also establish relationship with the schools where the beneficiaries are studying to assess their academic performances.
Accordng to Prof. Isara, “one of the conditions attached to the scholarship is that beneficiary must remain a scholar and we pegged it at a minimum of a “B” which is 60 per cent. The Cumulative average of the beneficiary at any point in time must be 60 per cent and above.
“Our scholars have been meeting this condition. After one year, if the average of the beneficiary is not up to 60 per cent, he/she will lose that year,” he said.
“So, parents have a lot of work to do, you must encourage the child to continue to be a scholar,” he said.
Prof.Isara said that a cheque of N250, 000 would be given to winner, Master Ohre to support his education.
He added that cash would be paid at the beginning of the term on the condition that he will return an average of “B” at the end of the session before continuing another session.
The Chairman of the Committee urged the parent of the winner to furnish the Foundation with the academic performance of the child at the end of every term to enable them to ask questions and know the areas that needed improvement and do a follow up accordingly.
Responding, Dr. Mrs . Juliet Ataine, the Head Mistress of T.E.A. Salubi Primary School, Ovu Inland, represented by the Assistant Head Teacher, Mr. Peter Akponemu expressed gratitude to the Foundation.
Dr. Ataine called on other organisations to emulate the kind gesture of the Foundation for a rapid development in Ovu Communities.
Accordng to the Headmistress, “I am grateful to this Foundation, if other organisations emulate this, Ovu Communities will develop faster, so I encouraged them to do, accordingly . “I appreciate this Foundation, please keep it up and God will continue to bless you,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr. Benson Ohre , father of the recipient of the award, expressed his appreciation to members and the President of Ovu Foundation.
