The alumni of the Queen’s School Ibadan, Old Girls Association (69-73/75 sets) have upscaled and launched a scholarship initiative set up to celebrate the legacy of the late Dr Ameyo Adadevoh, a Nigerian physician who sacrificed her life to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus in Nigeria in 2014.
The event marked the 10-year remembrance of Adadevoh, one of the members of the old student association, and was held at the Assembly Hall, Queen’s School, Apata, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday.
As part of efforts to establish a life-impacting legacy in honour of the patriot, the alumni established the “Ameyo Adadevoh Scholarship Scheme” (AASS) in 2020 to enhance the quality of science education in the school by encouraging female students to go into the science fields.
An initiative to empower more girls to become leaders in the science fields in the future and also support the government in the development of the education sector through quality improvements, especially in the sciences.
Dr Adadevoh, a top science student who later became a distinguished medical doctor, a path for which she gave her life. The scholarship thus reflects her legacy of excellence and hard work that the present-day girls should emulate.
Aside from launching the scheme, the group announced its goal of establishing an endowment to foster this legacy in perpetuity. The yield from the endowment, which will be handed over to the global alumni body and the school, will allow the scholarship scheme to be expanded into other areas of promoting STEM education in the school and the state at large.
The president of the Queen’s School Ibadan, Old Girls Association (69-73/75 sets), Mrs Derin Soname, noted that the initiative would inspire the younger generations, especially the girl child.
“Late Adadevoh’s life must be seen as an inspiration to the association both to the present-day schools and Nigeria at large. This is why we are proud to immortalise her life, her courage, and her legacy. We believe this will impact lives and encourage the girl child to embrace education in Nigeria,” she added.
Professor Bola Akanji, one of the set members, noted that the association is determined to ensure that the legacy lives on.
She emphasised the importance of other individuals and organisations partnering with the group to ensure the best overall impact of the scheme.
“Partnership is key to the sustenance of the legacy we are starting. The partnership drive, which is tagged the ‘Adopt an Ameyo Scholar’, is to task individuals and groups to buy into the initiative by supporting the value not just in monetary terms but more to share the journey forward. When you adopt, you take the cause into your heart and become a legacy partner. This ensures that the legacy will not die—just like you do not allow a child that you adopt to die.
“We look forward to the support of well-meaning Nigerians and private organisations to raise an endowment (Trust Fund) that will be managed by the school and future generations of old girls after we, the present ones, are all gone,” she added.
She also commended the support of various alumni towards the development of the education sector, just as she urged the government to join hands with them to create a Public-Private-Civil-Partnership (PPCP) to restore the old glory of education in the state and nation. She also advocated for a seat of alumni bodies at the table of governance.
In her keynote address, titled “Becoming the best of yourself; making the most of your talents and opportunities,” Ms Adeola Solanke, who is also an alumnus of the school, charged the students to remain focused and discover their talents as well as make the best out of them.
“This will make you unique and excellent. Now is the time to discover what you are good at and follow through to be the best at it. Make a critical study about yourself and check your strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities that will contribute to your success,” she added.
Beneficiaries of the scholarship include Arowolo Kehinde Emmanuela-SS1 (Best Student), Salami Mercy Onyeoza-SS1S (first runner-up), and Adeniji Rodiat Titilope-SS1S (second runner-up), while the association renewed the scholarships of Abidoye Faheedah Dolapo-SS3 and Raji Habibat-SS2. Renewal is based on the continued top performance of the awardees.
In her remarks, the National President of the old student association of the school, Dr Yemisi Solanke-Koya, noted that the late Adadevoh deserves the highest national honour for her bravery in saving the nation and the world at large from a deadly virus.
“I am delighted to congratulate the Queen’s School alumni 69-73/75 for the laudable initiative, which is to uphold the legacy of Dr. Adadevoh. I want to assure you that the national executive will join forces to uphold the legacy. I urge the students to make Dr Adadevoh a role model who excelled as a student at the school and rose to the peak of her career as a proud Nigerian physician,” she added.
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