Rotary Club splashes N3.4m scholarships on 34 indigent students

By Gabriel Dike 

The Rotary Club District 9110 Educational and Welfare Endowment Fund (DEWEF) has put smiles on the faces of 34 indigent students in tertiary institutions in Lagos and Ogun, with the award of scholarship valued at N100, 000 each.

The scholarship worth N3.4 million was presented, at Rotary Centre, Ikeja, to the 34 indigent students in Lagos at a colourful ceremony that attracted the students’ parents and representatives of various universities and polytechnics that offered admission to the students in the 2016/2017 academic session. A breakdown showed that 18 were new awardees while 16 were old recipients who maintained their Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

In his address at the ceremony, the District Governor, Mr. Patrick Ikheloa, tasked the 34 students to do the club proud by performing well in their academic pursuit to enable them benefit in next year’s scholarship award by maintaining good CGPA.

Chairman, DEWEF Board of Trustees, Mr. Adeniji Raji, lauded the recipients while urging them to note that the real value of the scholarship goes beyond the monetary award. It places some form of responsibility on the 34 students to continue to excel in their academic pursuit as well as in the development of their morale and ethnical values.

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According to him, the objectives of the fund include award of scholarship to brilliant but indigent students in federal and state tertiary institutions in the district which is made up of Lagos and Ogun states. Raji explained that the initiative was established in 1992, but the first scholarships were awarded in 2009/2010 academic session to three indigent students stating that in 2010/2011, four new students were added to the three, 2011/2012, four addition to the existing seven.

“Prior to now, the beneficiaries were drawn from universities only but I am happy to announce that this year, polytechnics and colleges of education were considered,” he said. “Only medical students in 200 level or 300 level students are qualified for the award.” 

Raji further gave a breakdown of institutions whose students received the scholarship awards. While nine of the students are from University of Lagos, three are from Lagos State University, two from Olabisi Onabanjo University and one each from Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Tai Solarin University of Education, Lagos State Polytechnic and Yaba College of Technology. He said in order to improve the interaction and welfare of the indigent students, the board would institute students mentoring programme for the scholarship recipients.

Responding to the scholarship award bestowed on its students, the Dean, Students Affairs of LASU, Dr. Olufemi Obayori informed the gathering that LASU has the lowest school fee of N25, 000 and for the club to award N100, 000 scholarship each to three students is a welcome development. While commending the club for its contribution in the education sector, he pledged that LASU students will continue to be worthy ambassadors of the club.

For Polycarp Daniel Edet, one of the recipients, the N100, 000 scholarship award came handy for most students who are from poor family. He promised that the awardees would not disappoint the club in their academic pursuit.

A parent, Mrs. Adenaya Olufunke whose daughter was among the 18 recipients’ new awardees described the scholarship as a good development adding that the money will go along way in helping her to finance her child’s university education.