30 indigent secondary school students of Ile-Ife, Osun have been shortlisted for the 2024 Ife May Club scholarship award worth N3.15 million.
Disclosing this in an interview with our correspondent in Ibadan, the President of the Socio-Cultural Club, Mr. Abimbola Ilori said the scholarship award is aimed at breaching the gap between the children of the poor and the rich in senior secondary schools that domicile in Ile-Ife.
He added that the scholarship would run for a period of three years after which another set of beneficiaries would be selected.
Ilori as disclosed in an interview said the project started 30 years ago with Post graduate Scholarship for Ife indigenes who were studying at the then University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
He said the post-graduate scholarship is a capital intensive project but the aim is to have more Ife Indigenes in the system.
He, however, stated that the motives of the project was defeated as most of the beneficiaries of the scheme after completion of their studies left the University for the private sector.
“What drives the introduction of the post-graduate scholarship is to have more scholars of Ife indigenes in the system so that whenever it is time to fill the vacant position of the Vice-Chancelor of the institution, we will have a candidate.
“As you are aware that since the establishment of the Obafemi Awolowo University some decades past Ife Indigenes is yet to assume the status of the Vice-Chancellor except Professor Eluyera who acted in that capacity for a while.
“Though the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor has nothing to do with the issue of the federal characters as there is a laid down procedure, at the same time having more scholars in the system will be an added advantage.
‘Today, we may not have Ife indigenes as the Vice-Chancellor of the OAU but we have them in other universities across the country as the Vice-Chancellors.
“Also, the location of the University in the ancient town of Ile-Ife has impacted greatly on the community.
“Our hope is that one day, Ife indigenes will assume the status of the Vice-Chancellor of the University on merit.”
On the re-launching of the scholarship award for the Senior Secondary School indigent students, the President said the Club is working in collaboration with the management of the schools in Ile-Ife at ensuring that right students are selected.
According to him, as members of Ife May Club which comprises of Ife indigenes of various professions, this is our own way of given back to the society.
“The award ceremony which is scheduled for Tuesday in Ile-Ife is an annual event.
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