At least seven students drawn from communities under Ogulagha kingdom, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta state, were today awarded scholarship in the maiden edition of Pondi Eddy P. Scholarship Scheme.
In his opening speech, founder and sponsor of the scheme, Pondi Eddy said the vision, conceived 2017 was aimed at encouraging and increasing the standard of education, and to create more awareness on the need for education amongst youths, saying youths are future leaders, hence investing in their education was a great investment in developing the kingdom.
According to the philanthropist, the maiden edition of the scheme was limited to indigenes from Ogulagha kingdom with communities such as Ogulagha, Youbebe, Sokebolou, Yokri, Obotobo I & II, and others.
Pondi further said the scheme was aimed at giving out 50, 000 naira to each beneficiary per session for a maximum of four academic years for university students, and two academic years for polytechnic students, adding that a total of seven students drawn from the concerned communities benefited from this year’s scheme.
“Beneficiary of the maiden edition of the scheme are limited to indigenes from Ogulagha kingdom, with the communities (Ogulagha, Youbebe, Sokebolou, Yokri, Obotobo I & Obotobo II each having beneficiary.
“Beneficiaries are entitled to Fifty thousand naira (NGN50,000.00) each per session for a maximum of four academic sessions for universities and two academic sessions for polytechnics. A total of seven (7) awards will be given out today with Sokebolou community having the privilege of receiving two awards, being my home,” the philanthropist added.
The philanthropist further disclosed that the highest UTME score from covered communities, with registration for 2016/2017 academic session as a student in any Nigerian tertiary institution of learning, etc. were all used as criteria for selecting this year’s beneficiaries.
While congratulating the beneficiaries, the sponsor and founder of the scheme implored them to be good ambassadors of the kingdom by working hard in their studies, stressing that their success is for the whole Ogulagha kingdom.
In his own speech, Hon. Justice Timadi Akuna, President, Ogulagha Youth Council, thanked the initiator, Pondi Eddy P. for the kind gesture, while he urged recipients to be serious with their studies.
Also buttressing the President’s point, Comr. Miekirigha Dose, Secretary, Ogulagha Youth Council, said had it been people who are well-to-do in the kingdom had followed Pondi’s step, the whole kingdom would have been transformed educationally.
In her response, one of the beneficiaries, Miss Preye Guwor, from Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, thanked the initiator for the kind gesture showed her and her colleagues, promising that she would never let him down.
Other beneficiaries who went home with 50,000 cheque are Okeboh Miebi, from Niger Delta University; Pondi Tombra, from Open University of Nigeria; Isereke Simon, from Niger Delta University; Potoki Douye, from Benson Idahosa University.
Others include, Igere Betty, from Ambrose Alli University and Nelson Tamaraogonokemi, from Delta State Polytechnic.
Representative from Ogulagha traditional council, parents and youths from Ogulagha Youth Council all graced the epoch making presentation.
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