By Our Correspondent
The Annal-Phil Atiku Foundation has doled out cash prizes to winners of the fourth edition of the AAF science competition held amongst secondary schools in Olomu Kingdom.
The event which was held at the palace grounds of the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom had Miss Onoriobarorakpor Sandra of Okpare Grammer School Okpare; Master Akadido Mark, of Ovwor Mixed Secondary School Ovwor and Master Akpoyibo Jabin of Olomu Secondary School Oterere receiving the cash prize of N50, 000, N20, 000 and N10, 000 respectively.
While presenting the cash prizes to the winners the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom HRM Ovie R.L. Ogbon Ogoni Oghoro I, OON stated that he was so proud of the great work the Olomu Enlightenment Project Group (OEPG) and the Annal-Phil Atiku Foundation has done since 2011 to stimulate and challenge students learning in the secondary schools in Olomu Kingdom intellectually. He however called on other Olomu sons and daughters to rise up to do what they can for the betterment of the kingdom.
Earlier in his address, Prince Phillip Atiku Director of Annal-Phil Atiku Foundation stated that he believes that holding the science competition yearly does not only gives the student something to look forward to but also helps to raise the standard of education in Olomu Kingdom. He said “we strongly believe that education must start at the grass root level and especially secondary school level. For if the educational foundation of a child is weak at the grass root level then such a child cannot compete favorably with his/her age mates anywhere in the world.
“Although we know what it feels like to be brilliant but no money to further your education, we are also aware that he who opens the door of school closes the doors of prisons. That is why the AAF will continue to reach out and call on well-meaning indigenes of Olomu Kingdom to come join hands in reviving the drastically falling standard of education prevailing everywhere including Olomu Kingdom.
“To the beneficiaries of the widow’s petty trade scheme I am urging you to make judicious use of the tokens because we believe that with good management the little seed we are sowing into your lives like the mustard seed can grow to become a major source of livelihood that can affect many lives one way or the other tomorrow.”
On his part, Prince Daniel Ekiugbo President Olomu Enlightenment Project Group (OEPG) noted that one does not need to be super rich before contributing to the socio economic advancement of his place of birth and thanked the director of Annal-Phil Atiku Foundation for his steadfastness in fulfilling his promise made since 2010.
High point of the event was the introduction of the educational support for two less privileged Olomu children who are to receive annual education fund of N50, 000 each for five years (children of late Mr. John Oruaohwo of Akperhe community benefitted) and the widow’s petty trade scheme from which fifteen women drawn from the fifteen communities of Olomu benefited. This according to Prince Phillip Atiku was designed to commemorate the conferment of the OON award on the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom HRM Ovie R.L. Ogbon Ogoni Oghoro I.
