A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Daniel Adedayo Ashaolu Memorial Foundation, has splashed a Scholarship Awards worth N8,195,000 on the indigent students of the Efon Alaaye kingdom in Ekiti State.
The Sponsor of the NGO, Chief Olatunde Ashaolu, the Gbobaniyi of Efon Alaaye Kingdom, explained that the kind gesture, which was the sixth edition, was extended in his bid to immortalize his late father, lay a good legacy for youths in the Community as well as encourage students whose parents do not have the financial strenght to adequately cater for the educational needs of their children. A total of 38 Students benefited from recent empowerment which held at the Event Hall of the St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Idagba area of the community.
Chief Ashaolu who expressed gratitude to God for the success of the 2020 edition of the programme, inspite of the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the world, revealed that the NGO has introduced a Post-Graduate category to the Annual Scholarship Awards and two Graduate students who have distinguished themselves in the Arts and Sciences, benefited.
He also presented various cash gifts to 36 others in the Secondary School category in the 2020 edition. He used the opportunity to disclose that a total of the sum of N3,725,000 was disbursed. And this reflected a sum of N1.5million increase when compared with that for 2019 put at N2,275,000.
Receiving their cash gifts for the Post Graduate category, a sum of N500,000 and a laptop were presented each to both Mr. Oluwatosin Mayowa Olajide, a PhD student of the Department of Soil Science, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State and Miss Oluwaseun Kike Olagunju, a graduate student pursuing a Master’s Programme in Cultural and Media Studies at the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State.
First position in the Secondary School Scholarship Awards went to Miss Aladejare Oluwadamilola Ruth of the Federal Government Girls College, Efon Alaaye. She got a sum of N250,000, a laptop, a medal and a trophy.
The Second position in the Secondary School category was also clinched by Miss Adelanke Timilehin Bright from the Anglican Secondary School, Efon Alaaye, who received a sum of N200,000, a laptop and a medal.
The Third position in the Secondary School category went to Miss Adetunji Bosede Janet from the Anglican Secondary School, Efon Alaaye. She got a sum of N175,000, a laptop and a medal.
Also, for the remaining 35 others, who were from different Schools, were presented with Consolation Prizes of the sum of N60,000 each. Among the 35 others who went home with Consolation Prizes, four students were from the Federal Government Girls College, Efon Alaaye; five (5) were from the Ekiti State Government College, Efon Alaaye; five (5) were Our Saviours Standard College, Efon Alaaye; another five (5) were from Efon High School, Efon Alaaye; C.A.C. Grammar School, Efon Alaaye; while three (3) were from Anglican Secondary School, Efon Alaaye; another three (3) were from St. Michael’s Catholic Grammar School, Efon Alaaye; and three (3) others were also from the Apostle Babalola Memorial Grammar School, Efon Alaaye.
Giving his report at the 2020 edition, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Daniel Adedayo Ashaolu Memorial Foundation, Prince Victor Amele said: “since the inception of the Foundation Six years ago, a total of 170 recipients from the inception between 2015 and 2019 have benefited from the Scholarship Awards”.
He noted that the over N3 million given to the 40 beneficiaries in the 2020 edition was added up with amounts spent in previous editions, it will give a whopping sum of N8,195,000 spent so far by the Foundation. This was apart from other gifts items such as laptops, and medals which were presented in gold, silver and bronze categories for the first, second and third positions.
Amele explained that the sponsor was able to also recognize two physically challenged students who also benefited from the scheme.
He advised the beneficiaries and their parents to make effective use of the funds and not to divert it for their ventures, adding that part of the funds should be used to register for their NECO exams since the Ekiti State Government under Dr. Kayode Fayemi has paid for their WAEC fees.
Also addressing the beneficiaries, the Alaaye of Efon Kingdom, Oba Dr. Emmanuel Adesanya Aladejare commended the efforts of the sponsor, Chief Ashaolu, particularly for using his good deeds to immortalize his late father through the Memorial Foundation he singlehandedly established and funded.
The monarch used the opportunity to pray for the sponsor for more provision, protection and the strength to do more for the Efon Community. He also used the opportunity to call on other well-meaning and influential Efon Indigenes to emulate Chief Ashaolu’s kind gesture for the progress and betterment of Efon and the generations to come.
While speaking with PMParrot, some of the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the sponsor. Miss Olagunju Oluwaseun Kikelomo, from the University of Ibadan, said: “I am really elated. Infact, I am short of words. I am grateful to God. And I promised that I will never take this for granted. I am really happy about the scholarship. I will really like to say a big thank you to the Sponsor. Thank you for the good work. God will continue to be with him and bless him. Everything he does will continue to prosper”.
Winner of the first position in the Secondary School category, Miss Aladejare Oluwadamilola Ruth from the Federal Government Girls College, Efon Alaaye, said: “I am in SS 2. I am in the Science Class. I feel highly honoured to be the person that won this Scholarship Award. I feel fulfilled with the generosity of our sponsor and donor. I see the opportunity to be a partaker of this scholarship award as a great privilege”.
“In every way mentioned, I want to appreciate the family of the donor. I will like my mates and juniors to study hard for them to also be a partaker of this award next time. It’s a very great privilege and opportunity. I thank them for it. I also advise my colleagues to create more time for their studies so that they all can be the best that they want to be in their academics and in life. The secret of my success has been God. God is my vision. He is everything I depend on. I return all the glory back unto God”.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
