Trust Awards Scholarships to 18 Ogoni Final-Year Students Ogoni Scholarship Fund

L-R: Professor Fakae (Trust Board Member), Emmanuel Sorle Yowika (scholarship beneficiary), and Hon. Uche Onyeagucha (Chairman of the Board, Kiisi Trust)

By Cyril Lemene

On Thursday 23rd May 2019, Kiisi Trust, in partnership with Optimum Resources Management, hosted her first award ceremony of the Ogoni Scholarship Fund, which aims to support final-year Ogoni students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria with the passion for education to improve their lives and the societies in which they find themselves. A total of N2,700,000 was given to 18 final-year students at N150,000 each to support their final year research projects. 

The event which welcomed partners, grantee-partners, the Trust’s Advisory Council members and Board members, as well as stakeholders from Ogoniland, was a remarkable one as issues regarding the growth of Ogoniland were discussed alongside the presentation of certificates to the beneficiaries. The Chairman of the Kiisi Trust Board of Trustees, Honourable Uche Onyeagucha, encouraged the Trust to continue what they have started even as they hope to increase the number of beneficiaries in the coming years. He also stressed to the students to preach the good news to others about their scholarships, as well as encouraging them to apply to benefit from the program in other areas.

In early 2018, the Board of Trustees put in motion the need to roll-out the Ogoni Scholarship Fund for Ogoni final-year students in tertiary institutions throughout Nigeria. The Fund kicked off in June 2018 with a lengthy application period from September – December 2018. Joy and happiness from the beneficiaries and their parents filled the atmosphere as they all received their award certificates. Emmanuel Sorle Yorwika, one of the beneficiaries who spoke on behalf of the students, thanked the Trust for the wonderful work and encouraged them to continue the good work they have started. “We will take the good news everywhere we go,” he said.

Professor Barineme Fakae, a Trustee of Kiisi Trust who was the keynote speaker, spoke on the importance of education and the need for the sustainability of the project. “The role of education in national development cannot be overstated. Education is a vital investment for human and economic development. It is the true driving force for national development and economic growth. Education gives the skills needed by the society to opt out of poverty into prosperity. Being one of the thematic areas for Kiisi Trust, the Advisory Council and the Board of Trustees figured that the best way to address this area is through award of scholarships to scholars. This explains why the selection of beneficiaries is based purely on merit. Kiisi Trust seeks students who have clear academic records that have come to the final year to whom one time subvention may be made towards the writing up of their final year projects. Through due diligence and background checks made on applicants, would be beneficiaries in their penultimate year to graduation, with a CGPA not lower than 3.50 are considered. This method of selection was adopted by the Trust because it believes that those who have exemplified themselves through academic studies stand a better chance of making huge contributions to Ogoniland.” He said.

Education, as all parents and guardians admit, is a long-term investment with an equally long gestation period, but it is one of the best legacies to bequeath to individuals, groups, and society. For rural and poor families in Ogoniland who understand the importance of education but who struggle daily to pay school tuition and other fees, the Ogoni Scholarship Fund by Kiisi Trust is one attempt to ease their struggle by focusing on the last-mile of education (final year of tertiary education institutions) by supporting the final year research projects of Ogoni students to enable them to graduate and perhaps proceed on to further their education career.

Below is the list of 2018 Ogoni Scholarship Fund beneficiaries: