Five hundred and thirty-four undergraduates of different institutions of higher learning on Monday received over N100 million for emerging successful in the year 2024 edition of the Monday Onyeme Foundation’s scholarship scheme.
Deputy Governor of Delta State, Mr Monday Onyeme, who presented the cheques to the beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme in Asaba, charged students to always put in their best in their studies,
He said, “This is the first time that we are holding this kind of function in Asaba; before now, it used to be held only in Ndokwa West Local Government Area, but God has given us the grace to go beyond Ndokwa.
“This scheme started in 2016 in just one ward, that is, Ward 5, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area.
“We did that for about three years in one ward, then in 2019, we decided to move from one ward to three local government areas, Ndokwa West, East and Ukwuani local government areas.
“We did that in the three local government areas from 2019 to 2023 and it became necessary to expand the scheme beyond the three local government areas.
“We are very grateful to God that for the 2024 edition, we took the bold step and today we are in nine local government areas of Delta North senatorial district.
“For this 2024 edition of the scholarship scheme, with the power of God Almighty and His benevolence, we were giving N100,000 per student, but this time around, and for the first time, we are giving N200,000 per student.
“Also, because we have expanded, the number has also increased from what we used to have annually; this time around, we have 534 successful students.
“Over the years, we have always called on corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to partner with the foundation so that we can reach out to more people, I am happy to announce that this year, we have the highest number of people that came out voluntarily to partner with us.
“Aside from my humble self, the partnership from well-meaning Nigerians, especially Nigerians of Ndokwa extraction, assisted greatly in helping this foundation.
“So, with the help of Ndokwa sons and daughters and some non-Ndokwa people, we were able to raise over N40 million and, I say, may God bless all the contributors.
“This is something that we should all do because if we do it, we would make Nigeria safer, more peaceful and more prosperous.”
Each of the successful students got the sum of N200,000 with the overall best receiving the sum of N600,000. First runner-up and second runner-up got N500, l000 and N400,000 respectively.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the overall best student, Nwamaka Oweka, from the University of Benin, said that she was overwhelmed with joy and very grateful to the Deputy Governor Onyeme, and the Monday Onyeme Foundation.
She said that it was God that made it possible for her to come out first in the aptitude test, and the money received from the foundation would go a long way in assisting her in her education.
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