Christopher Odamah/Arue Avura Florence, Warri
In continuation of its scholarship to students in the Niger Delta region, the Morgan Smart Development Foundation (MSDF) today awarded scholarship to another set of seventeen (17) indigent Secondary School Students in the oil rich city of Warri, Delta State.
Those recipients awarded are JSS 1 students that benefit the MSDF 2014/15, Anolua .A. Ajiroghene, Ugbuwangue Secondary School; Davis Oritsetsolaye, Nana Model School; Igbedi Toritseju Favour, Eke Oritseweyinmi Onome of Hussey Model School; Ekwejunior Enche Blessing, Yonwuren College; Agbajor Oritsemeyiwa Christabel, Delta College; Abi Joshua, Pessu God’swill, Ujeh Chukwudi Marvelous of Uwangue College and Ebaje Favour of Essi College II.
Others are from SSS 1; Umude Oghenetega Worthy, Youwuren College; Awipi Kelvvin Oghenemudiaga, Ugborikoko Secondary School; Epiah Harriet Roli, Nana Model School; Edewor Kesiena, Lori Sarah Davis of Uwangue College; Meguonefe Samuel, Essi College and Takwo Elohor of St. Theresa’s International School.
Speaking at the 5th scholarship award ceremony for the deserving students under the Foundation Education Assistance Program to financially challenged but brilliant students from the Niger Delta, the President/CEO of Morgan Smart Development Foundation, Dr. Evelyn Omawumi Urhobo said that “It is said in the Holy Book that the good Lord will always bless the diligent efforts of his faithful servants.”
She said “The 5th scholarship award ceremony for the new set of 17 brilliant but financially challenged students who are beneficiaries of the 2014/2015 are now a total number of Seventy-Eight (78); though Fourteen (14)) have successfully completed their studies.”
According to her, “The plan of the Foundation is to award Fifteen (15) Scholarships every year till we reach a target of Hundred (100) students. This we hope to achieve within the next Two (2) Awards Gods willing. This is to give them the chance to access qualitative education to enable them competes with children from rich homes anywhere in the world.”
“The road can be very rough with all sorts of distractions from not finding a conducive environment to study at home, influence of bad friends, reading on an empty stomach, going on hawking errand for your parent to put food on the table, can all be very exhaustive and challenging but you must never give up,” she also said.
In her words, “I want to once again congratulate you, 17 beneficiaries of the 2014/15 Scholarship Ward. I pray you take advantage of the opportunity that you have been given with this scholarship to excel in your studies. Let the desire burn in your hearts as you leave this gathering, God will bless, keep you under His protective care for the duration of your studies in Jesus Name. AMEN.”
Also speaking, the Honourable Commissioner of Education (Basic & Secondary), Dr. Tony Nwaka who was represented by Dr. Michael Emeshili, Chief Inspector of Education, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Warri South Local Government Council, commend Dr. Evelyn Omawumi Urhobo for her effort in promoting financial assistance to financially challenged but brilliant students from the Niger Delta.
Dr. Emeshili advised parents who still have their children in ramshackle schools to withdraw them and take them to government schools that are now world class schools with all facilities put in place, calling on spirited individuals to emulate Morgan Smart Foundation by opening more Foundations.
Dr. Nwaka stressed that primary and secondary education are free in the state, calling on parents and guardians to report any case of illegal collection of levies from students to the appropriate authority, vowed to deal with any teacher or school principal that goes about collecting illegal levies from student, warning that anyone caught will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The Chairman of the ceremony, Olaraja of Okere Kingdom, Chief Felix .E. Esisi who was represented by Prince Churchill Oki said that “You are welcome to this programme. I am so delighted but God was the one that brought me here as the Chairman. We are here for the award of scholarship presentation to another set of seventeen (17) indigent Secondary School Students.”
According to him, “Education was the only thing that can lift a person from poverty to wealth, urging the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity given to them to become whatever they want to become in life and commend Dr. Urhobo for her effort in ensuring that children from poor home get the best education, urged other well meaning Nigerians to emulate.
Responding, the awardees expressed their appreciation to God Almighty, who make it possible for them to be among the chosen ones because it was stated that many are called but few are chosen and promised to be up and doing in their studies to emerge one of the best in their various discipline.
Meanwhile, Morgan Smart Development Foundation, a non-religious and non-profit making organization dedicated to the empowerment of rural and urban poor women and youths for poverty reduction, employment generation and sustainable socio-economic development in the Niger Delta region.
