- Set To Award Scholarships To 289
BY SAM DUVWODE
As part of the annual scholarship scheme of the Monday Onyeme Foundation (MOF), a non-governmental organisation and brainchild of Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, 289 candidates have emerged successful in an aptitude test organised by the foundation for students in tertiary institutions and are set to be awarded scholarships.
Onyeme, who supervised the the test and marking of scripts, later announced the names of successful candidates.
289 candidates scaled through from a total of 999 candidates who sat for the examination for students of tertiary institutions at the Utagba-Ogbe centre for Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency.
Sir Onyeme, while congratulating the successful candidates, disclosed that for the 2024 edition, the scholarship scheme would cover Delta North Senatorial District.
He noted that the aptitude tests for candidates in Aniocha/Oshimli Federal Constituency would take place in Asaba while that for Ika Federal Constituency would hold in Agbor. The deputy governor thanked those who made contributions in several ways for the scheme to be successful and read out the names of those who made financial contributions for the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency.
According to him, all successful candidates would be given a cash prize of two N200,000 while those who took the first, second and third positions would be given the sum of N400,000, N350,000 and N300,000 respectively.
Sir Onyeme, while fielding questions from newsmen, disclosed that he was spurred to engage in the scholarship scheme based on his background.
According to him; “I am a product of charity, people helped me when I was growing up in life, not my parents, not my blood relations, people just helped me. And so haven gotten to certain stage in my life, I felt that I should also give back to people who are not as privileged as I was back then, because that time I was not privileged, somebody also lifted me”
“People sponsored my education and I am aware that the best legacy that one can bequeath to the people is education. Without education I will be nothing, I was born by peasant farmers who were not educated. We were five children, by God’s grace I became educated, went to the university, did my professional program, and that is why I grew in my career both in business and public service, so without education I won’t have been where I am today”. “In the course of my life, I have always loved charity work, I am doing this to give succour to the people of Ndokwa Nation. I am happy with the response; we started this scheme in my community, Onicha-Ukwuani, then spread it to my local government and to Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, and this year, we are covering the entire Delta North Senatorial district,” Sir Onyeme said.
Sir Onyeme disclosed that by the grace of God and with the support of his associates, philanthropic organisations and individuals, the scheme could cover the entire Delta State and the beyond.
