35 secondary school students from less privilege homes in Ebiraland in Kogi Central, have benefited from the scholarship award of Back to School Initiative, organized in memory of late Enesi Oyeyani Makoju.
Late Enesi Oyeyani Makoju, is the son of Late Joseph Makoju, former managing Director of the defunt National Electric Power Authority, (NEPA), and also Group Managing Director/CEO of Dangote Cement Plc until his retirement on January 31, 2020.
Speaking during the distribution of educational materials to the beneficiaries at Engr. Joseph Oyeyani Makoju’s residence, Ikaraworo in Adavi local government area of Kogi state, the convener of the fully funded scholarship Engr. Suberu Onimisi Nusa, said the aims of the ‘Back to School Initiative’ was to assist students who are orphans or from parents who can not pay their children school fees.
Speaking on the commencement of the scholarship programme, Engr. Nusa said “six years ago in 2019 we selected ourselves to uplift educational system knowing fully well the significant of education and how it can easily change the lives of people for better.
“In view of that and having considered the fact that fingers are not equal in terms of financial capacity. We are also aware that some parents whenever their children complete primary schools they find it very difficult to sponsor them to secondary school.
“Having considered all of these, we decided to come together as one to render assistance to such parents through the sponsorship of their children to secondary school for six years.
“We carefully identified such children across Ebiraland who does not have father or mother or they have parents but not capable to finance the education of their children.
“We have done the first set of 35 students in 2019, they were given school uniforms, books, school sandals, mathematical sets , writing materials, school bags and their school fees were paid through out the six years.
“Today we are on the second set despite the death of one of our financier Mr Enesi Oyeyani Makoju. We have selected 35 beneficiaries across Ebiraland in his memory and the selected beneficiaries have also received their educational materials, which includes, exercise books, mathematical sets, school bags, sandals, school uniforms and payment of their school fees, which will be paid for the next six years” he said.
While assuring that the sponsors of the programme will continue it, for the betterment of the less privilege in Ebiraland, the convener appealed to the beneficiaries not to disappoint them, but to face their studies so that they can come out as good ambassadors.
In his remarks, Dr. Hussein Etudaiye, another co-financier, charged the beneficiaries to take the advantage of the scholarship to acquire their secondary school education, assuring them that, if they graduate with good result the ‘Back to School Initiative’ can also assisted them to further their education at tertiary level.
“There is no alternative to education that is why we the like minds and having benefited too from Makoju family we decided to give back to the society. Take this as a rare opportunity so that in future you can as well give back to the less privilege in the society” he advised.
The representative of Mrs Glayds Makoju at the occasion, Dame Stella Olobayotan in her remark, appealed to well meaning individuals to emulate the kind gesture of the Makoju’s family in uplifting the less privilege in the society through education.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Adebayo Faith, a student of Ihima Community Secondary School in Okehi local government area thank the initiators of the programme and promised that they will make them proud by ensuring that they come out with good results at the end of their secondary school.
