Agha Ibiam
15 December 2008
Lagos — Indigent, but brilliant students of Epe extraction who had no hope of completing their tertiary education can now smile, as N200 million has been set aside by a philanthropist in their midst to assist them achieve their life ambition and goals. Agha Ibiam writes
Odushe Odutola, a 300 level Economics student of the Lagos State University, Ojo campus, could not believe his eyes when he saw his name as one of the awardees of Sir Michael Otedola Foundation Scholarship Award. The event which was held at Epe, Lagos State, was to mark the 2007/2008 award programme.
Odutola, who got the information about the scholarship through the Federation of Epe Indigenes Association early this year, said this is one award he has been waiting for since he became a graduate three years ago. "I am happy to be a beneficiary of this great scholarship. It will go a long way to assist my education and also enable me to study harder so that I can reapply. My parents have been trying hard to train me and I know it has not been easy for them. God will continue to bless the organisation, while the indigenes will not forget the gesture," he prayed.
Another student, who never believed his name would be among the beneficiaries, is Buraimoh Adeniyi. According to him, he has been hearing about the award but never took it serious for reasons best known to him. A 400 level student of Linguistics Studies, University of Lagos could not also hide his feelings as a beneficiary.
"I pray that God will grant our daddy long live and prosperity. We the people of Odoragunshin appreciate him," Adeniyi said. But one of the oldest beneficiaries of the scheme, Mrs. Afusat Lawal, who graduated in 1987 from University of Ibadan, never believed her eyes that the scheme which started more than 22 years ago is still on track.
"Initially, people thought that the programme was politically motivated, but today, we are marking the 2008 anniversary. I finished with second class upper and I am working with INEC as a senior officer," she said. The officer would have been unlucky during the admission process when she was turned down by the head of the department on account that she did not disclose that she was on scholarship.
But if not for the quick intervention of Sir Otedola, Afusat, as she is also called would have lost that great opportunity of becoming an undergraduate then. But by sheer good luck, when Otedola came back from foreign trip and received the complaint from her, he took Afusat with him in his car to Ibadan, a feat so many elite can not do today.
A lot of testimonies were recorded during the award ceremony, as beneficiaries were called one after the other to receive a prototype bank cheque of N100, 000. Some of the beneficiaries, who could not make it to the venue, were represented by their parents who were already seated before the invited guests arrived.
A committee was set up for the selection with the aim to ensure that candidates are chosen on merit and without gender or religious inclination. They were also to ensure that there's enough publicity, designed to sensitise Epe indigenes about the scholarship. The committee, which was inaugurated in April has only one year mandate. This, according to the initiator, Sir Otedola, is to avoid unnecessary infiltration of members by the public. For this year scholarship, about N200 million was set aside, with a promise that more funds would be injected if the need arises. The reason behind what Otedola is doing, according to one of the statements by the foundation explained that "education is for improving lives of others and for leaving your state and the world a better place."
Mr. Ogunsanwo Babatunde served as chairman to the committee. Brief in his speech, he said the initiation and management of the Otedola's scholarship, has put smiles and touched the lives of a thousand families in Epe. "Over 300 people have benefited from the scholarship since Femi Otedola took over the management of the scheme. I do know that after the N200 million is exhausted, more will money will be raised," he said.
Virtually all eligible candidates of Epe student received the scholarship form which was distributed through the local committee members. About 150 forms were distributed and at last, 120 candidates were screened, interviewed, which consisted of both oral and written. The decentralisation of the form to local level according to the committee chairman was to make sure that nobody is denied the opportunity to apply.
"Candidates were thoroughly screened before arriving at the number we have today. This will give some 100 opportunities to discontinue from poverty in not only in Lagos State, but in the country as a whole. What the foundation is doing is that not much that every child should be taught, but that every child should be given the chance to learn," Babatunde said.
The N200 million donations for this year's scholarship by the President/CEO of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, Mr. Femi Otedola, was seen as 'manner from heaven'. A parent said he will only concentrate his efforts at training those at the secondary, but prayed some of them should be brilliant to enjoy the largesse doled out by a magnanimous son of the soil.
According to Otedola, the donation is expected to support deserving students of Epe origin to actualise their dreams, since education is sin-qua-non to the development of the country. Otedola, who took over the management of the foundation from his father, apparently on account of age and other factors, noted that the presentation of the award was important as it addresses the subject of education and the opportunities thereof.
"Since the revival of the foundation a few years ago, many individuals have benefited from the scheme. We feel great sense of pride and fulfillment in this because it means that our desire to contribute to the development of education in the country is yielding positive fruits," the business mogul said.
Otedola corroborated what the committee chairman said, by reaffirming that the selection process for this year award was purely merit driven and was made irrespective of sex, religion or local government origin of the candidates. But it was the success recorded so far; he said was the primary motivation for his organisation's continued involvement in the scholarship scheme which is based on the platform of the founder.
"To this end, my organisation has set aside N200 million as its contribution to supporting deserving students of Epe origin. The foundation's intervention in the educational sector is expected to grow over time to include infrastructural improvements and the provision of learning aids to schools in the area to widen the impact," he said.
The scholarship scheme, which was almost down on its knees, was revived four years ago when Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited took over the management and sponsorship. Today, over 300 students from different higher institutions in the country have benefited from the scheme which according to the 2008 coordinator, Mr. Philip Akinola, remained the largest scholarship scheme to be sponsored by an indigenous company.
The foundation was incorporated as a non-political organisation, founded mainly as a charity to carter for the week, the needy and the less privileged. According to the intent of the founder, it was also instituted to work for the advancement of education, religion and other purposes beneficial for the entire community.
This year, two new innovations were introduced to the scheme. These include the incorporation of students from Colleges of Education and secondly the inclusion of the physically challenged from catchment areas of the scheme. "The decision was taken for the purpose of encouraging people to take up teaching profession, which in recent times, have been avoided by students thereby creating dearth of professional teachers especially at the primary school level," Akinola said.
The whole arena was filled with laughter when Sir Otedola spoke at the event. Despite his age, he was able to recollect past memories and made some lengthy speeches that touched the heart of many. He said, "This year award is one of the greatest we have been marking. I know there is a reward from above. When I first started the scholarship, there was nothing like committee members. But as times goes on, the need became necessary. But as a matter of policy, I never allowed them to serve more than one term. This is to forestall a situation where it will be abused and therefore loosing focus.
"Please I urge beneficiaries to follow Afusat's footstep. Any student who did not do well will not get another opportunity as it is not automatic. Those who benefited in time past are all over the world today. Some of them are doctors, engineers, bankers among others. When I travel abroad, they usually bring gifts to me. Some give me machines which I will use to check my blood pressure, while others beautiful things to me. I thank God and appreciate them. I than my son Femi who came to my rescue because he saw I was getting tired," Sir Otedola, who was a former governor of Lagos State said.
According to some guests at the occasion, they said Sir Otedola is naturally kind, who can not shut his eyes away from suffering people in his midst. The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Sarah Sosan commended the effort of the foundation for touching many lives and alleviating poverty, which she said is enormous in the country.
She remembered when as a director in one organisation and they needed some IT equipment and the former governor had to come to their rescue. That singular act she said helped a lot of people to achieve their life ambition in the state. Since the world is now a global village which is basically driven by education, she hopes that the world will be a better place to leave in when people are enlightened and educated, which will 'wake' up their hidden talents.
Sosan insisted that education will always be a priority of the state government no matter how had the economy bites.
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