By Chinwe Imo-Eze Onwosi
The Managing Director of GOSIMA group and CEO of the Gideon and Joy Life and Leadership Foundation, Dr. Gideon Osi, has awarded scholarships worth ₦100 million to indigent students in Ebonyi State.
The beneficiaries of the scholarship awards numbering sixty-two (62) in the secondary category and thirty-eight (38) in the university category will study in various secondary and tertiary institutions across Nigeria..
Addressing journalists during the Scholarship Award ceremony held at his country home, Amaeze Ishiagu in Ivo LGA of Ebonyi State, Dr. Gideon expressed his motivation for providing these scholarships, stating that he himself was a product of a scholarship program.
He emphasized the importance of giving back to society and providing opportunities for young individuals to pursue their dreams and aspirations.
According to him : “I am deeply grateful for the scholarship I received during my own educational journey, It transformed my life and opened doors of opportunity. Now, it is my turn to make a difference in the lives of these talented young individuals. By investing in their education, we are investing in the future of our nation.”
While presenting the cheque, Dr. Osi urged the scholarship recipients to be of good conduct and to demonstrate a strong commitment to their studies. He emphasized the importance of hard work, discipline, and integrity in achieving success.
“Our foundation is not only providing financial assistance but also mentoring and guidance to these students,” Dr. Gideon explained. “We want to ensure that they not only excel academically but also develop leadership skills and become responsible members of society.”
“Education to every community, every society, every country is like what oxygen is to the human body. When you educate the people, you are helping to reduce poverty, you are helping to reduce insecurity. This scholarship is our own way of giving to the society.
“It is useless being wealthy if you can’t make an impact in your community. We believe that this scholarship is the journey God has designed for us.
“We believe that children of the poor, indigent and vulnerable also deserve quality education. we are here to invest in their future because investment in them is an investment in our collective future.
“So, we have a total of 62 in the secondary category and 38 in the university. I can assure you, in 20 years time, we will be proud of these children”, he stated.
Some of the beneficiaries of the scholarship including Uche Chibuike and Okoro Prudence described it as the hope of the hopeless.
Chibuike said he would have been a school dropout if not for the scholarship, adding that paying his tuition fees and other fees at the university was very difficult for him
On her part, Okoro Prudence who is a 1st class graduate of Library and Information Science in UNIZIK said “This scholarship is giving hope to the hopeless because I was among the first people that started enjoying the scholarship, I was among the first beneficiaries. Now, I am a graduate.
“I was in my second year and wanted to drop out due to lack of money but this scholarship rescued me. If not, I could have been a dropout by now but God used this scholarship to make me a graduate today and to the glory of God, I graduated with 1st through this scholarship”.
Governor Francis Nwifuru who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Professor Grace Umezuruike during the event, commended Osi for remembering his background and empowering the indigent ones.
He urged the beneficiaries not to take the scholarship for granted but to make Osi proud to encourage him to continue to improve the lives of the people
