Ogheneruona Tejiri Oviorie, Delta

Ovu Foundation, a Non- governmental organization has presented scholarship awards to learners in T.E.A.Salubi Primary School, Oviore in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

In his speech, Prof.Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, President of the Foundation and Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petrolleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State disclosed that the Foundation has many agenda for the overall development of humanity adding that one of which is educational development programme targeted to support indigent children in twelve (12) schools in Ovu Community.

Professor Akpofure further disclosed that the Foundation has been giving out scholarships to pupils in the Community for over 13 years.

Accordng to Prof. Akpofure,, “the Foundation is a Non–Governmental Organisation which gives educational support to indigent children in Ovu Community. We have many other agendas but this one on educational support is very dear to us and key. It is a full scholarship that covers both tuition and educational materials. We also do on the spot visits to schools without notices to give uniforms to those whose own are torn or worn out, give out educational materials to pupils in schools we visited.”

Also speaking, Prof. Alphonsus Isara, Chairman, Scholarship Committee of the Foundation said that the Foundation embarks on the educational support programme in the Community in order to stimulate learning and reading competition among the learners adding that the Foundation is doing this in order to lift the burden of educating children in the area from the shoulders of the parents.

Prof. Isara disclosed that the Foundation follows a well thought out selection process to get the best suited learners for the scholarship programme.

Accordng to him, ‘the Committee makes the learners who are in Primary Six to sit for an examination based on what they have been taught in school, the best overall is then selected. For the learners to continue to benefit and enjoy the scheme, he or she must always obtain the minimum score of 60% B grade in the cumulative average of the three terms in each academic session.”

Prof. Akpofure and Prof. Isara then congratulated the beneficiaries and charged them to be more committed to their studies in order to continue to enjoy the scholarship.

They also charged 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. Juliet Ataine expressed her appreciation to the Foundation for the good humanitarian work they are doing, she said that they have not only stimulated the learners into imbibing reading culture but also made them to be focused in their academics.

Dr. Mrs. Ataine who was represented by the Assistant Head teacher, Mr. Peter Akponemu prayed God to bless members of the Foundation, make them to continue to excel in their endeavours.

While urging them to continue with the kind gesture, the Headteacher called on other good spirited people and Nigerians to emulate the good gesture of the Foundation.

Mrs. Rejoice Ofoegbu, mother of one of the beneficiaries who spoke on behalf of other parents expressed their appreciation to the Foundation for the kind gesture to their children.

The beneficiaries of the awards are Miss Miracle Linus who is given full scholarship in the secondary school (2023), 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.

The trio who were visibly elated expressed their appreciation to the Foundation for the opportunity given to them, they promised to always put in their best to continue to enjoy the Fundation’s scholarship.

Chief Nyerhovwo Ohre, a Warri based renowned lawyer and Dr. Oghenero Ohwohere-Asuma, Secretary, Scholarship Committee and other members of the Foundation assisted the President and Prof. Isara to present the cheques to the beneficiaries.

Hghpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries amidst cheers and jubilation.