Over 100 Senior Secondary III (SS3) students of Asaba origin, drawn from 12 public schools in the community, have benefitted from the maiden edition of the Tony Ndah Foundation WAEC scholarship scheme.
According to the organisers, emphasis was on public schools because it was assumed that those in private schools could not be considered to be indigent.
Speaking on the occasion, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Ogbueshi Tony Ndah; represented by Obiageli Ndah, said it was his modest way of encouraging the beneficiaries to focus on and pursue their education by taking the burden of WAEC enrolment off the shoulders of their parents/guardians.
US-based Ogbueshi Ndah noted that the event was not just a celebration of achievement, but a dream taking flight, stressing that the Foundation believed that supporting education was the best way to invest in the future of the youths.
He congratulated the beneficiaries and charged them to prepare well for their examinations, so that they could take their education further and become the mentors and donors of the next generation.
In his remarks, the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON; congratulated the Tony Ndah Foundation for the very successful and highly impressive undertaking, appreciating the donor for his philanthropy, Asaba-centricity, doggedness, resilience and determination to uplift the cause of Asaba young ones.
The Monarch specially commended the organisers for putting the programme together, reminding the young lads that the future of Asaba was in their hands and adding that: “Today I see the promise of Asaba as a shinning city on the horizon and one that will certainly have young ones that will take over the mantle of leadership in the years to come”.
He expressed delight in the quality of the students, whom he noted demonstrated the potentials to do well in time to come during the lectures on “The Importance of Education” by Prof Edna Mba of UNiDEL, Agbor and “Social Vices and their Menace” by Brenda Ndili-Okolie.
His Royal Majesty said the Ogwa-Ukwu congregation of Asaba sons and daughters at the event underscored the importance of the young ones drawing strengthen and inspiration from the people around, so that they could realise that the community could boast of people who had reached the zenith of their careers in all spheres of human endeavour, people that had truly excelled, people that walked the streets without blemish, totally untainted, and people with unquestionable good hearts.
“These are roll models that you can draw from; and I’m happy that we have you this number waiting to write WAEC and possibly end up in the Universities. That is why I believe that it is important, indeed now imperative that we should be engaging with our young ones frequently, so that they can appreciate that education is important, but that it is even more important when laced with the knowledge of tradition.
“We are here because we want to endorse the good work Tony Ndah is doing for us. Tony Ndah is single-handedly building a Museum at the palace ground valued at over ₦400 million, and in addition to that he is also trying to invest a substantial sum of money to build up the future of our children. We must support him. We must identify with him. But for you our dear ones, the saying will always be: “To Whom Much is Given, Much is Expected”.
“Amongst you are the Tony Ndahs of tomorrow, but you must be prepared for the journey ahead of you. Let it not be the challenge of money that will deter you because I believe that what we have clearly demonstrated as Asaba people, independent of what Tony Ndah has done today, is that we are prepared to stand with our young ones. To journey with them, walk shoulder to shoulder with them so that they can achieve their dreams”, Nna Agu said.
In an interview with Journalists, the lead organiser, Mrs Helen Dunkwu; said the scheme was basically to see the beneficiaries through their WAEC examinations, pointing out that upon gaining University admissions, the Foundation would float a follow up scholarship scheme for the successful candidates.
Mrs Dunkwu revealed that following the observation of the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON; the WAEC scholarship scheme would be extended to private schools, particularly St. Patrick’s College, St. Brigid Girls’ Secondary School and Anglican Girls’ Grammar School (AGGS), Asaba, in due course.
She said each of the beneficiaries would receive ₦45,000 for the 2025/2026 WAEC enrolment.
The highlights of the occasion were the presentation of prototype cheques to the beneficiaries and the cutting of the inaugural cake.
Why Delta North Needs a Senator Without Blemish Like Ned Nwoko...