The High Chief Olabanji Akingbule Foundation has again, awarded scholarship to 50 indigent but brilliant students in Ondo State.
Akingbule, during the 17th edition of his annual scholarship and bursary award ceremony that took place at the Princess Ejide Akingbule hall, Ondo State, on Saturday, said the foundation was borne out of his passion to give back to the society that contributed to his education.
He noted that his education was made possible due to the scholarship scheme that was organised by the Osemawe in Council in 1943.
“This is not only an event to award deserving people but an occasion to highlight the greatness in Ondo people, who out of nothingness bore in mind the need to help others.
“The Osemawe in Council bursary scheme that started in 1942 made it possible for me to attend the Ondo Boys High School in 1943, when I was a beneficiary,” he said.
The nonagenarian noted that the scholarship scheme will continue to be aiding the indigent students even after his death.
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“By the grace of God Almighty God, to ensure that the scheme never dies, I have put in place a public limited liability company that will be acting as my trustees for the foundation when it pleases God to call me,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, a member of the foundation’s board of trustee, Mr Ayoola Akingbule, said the event is not only to award brilliant indigent students but to also empower 90 market women.
He also said that the scholarship is for brilliant students, who are from poor family background and that they would continue to benefit from the scheme only if they continue to maintain their academic excellence.
“Today, we are not only awarding 50 brilliant indigent students but we are also providing monetary empowerment for 90 market women, in order to boost their sales and help their families grow.
” Yearly, we give N50,000 to higher institution students and N30,000 to secondary students and for them to continue benefiting from the scheme, the higher institution students must maintain a CGPA of 3.5 while the secondary school ones must have a minimum of 6 A’s in their terminal examination and as well pass oral interview that is normally conducted by the foundation,” he stated.
Appreciating the foundation and the organiser, an 8th time beneficiary of the scholarship, Olajide Sileola, a final year student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) who has been enjoying the scheme right from her secondary school days said she felt elated, just as she thanked the organisers for the kind gesture
“I feel so much elated today because this is the last time I would be benefiting from the scheme that has been helpful to my education since my secondary school days.
I appreciate the foundation’s board of trustee and the founder of the foundation, Baba Akingbule for his benevolence,” she said.
and then