Solution Forum Empowers Students, Women with Scholarships, Business Grants in Ekiti

 

A Non- Governmental Organisation, Solution Forum for Human Development and Community Growth, has empowered students and vulnerable women with scholarships and business support funds as part of efforts to reduce poverty and ease hardship among the  less privileged in Ekiti State.

The empowerment programme, held in Ikere-Ekiti, marked the maiden edition of the initiative tagged “People Empowerment and Community/Institution Development Projects” of which over One million naira has been expanded on the project 

Facilitator of the programme, Apostle (Dr)  Julius Oluwafemi, said the initiative was designed to support less privileged students and women in the society.

According to the retired principal, the vision to make a positive impact in society motivated the establishment of the organisation, with a focus on poverty alleviation and women’s economic empowerment.

He disclosed that more than 200 applications were received, from which beneficiaries were carefully selected. 

“We registered this organisation with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), we registered it with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), we opened both local and foreign accounts. The funds is partly from our purse, those of us that are involved and we also contacted some good spirited people, we told them about the organisation, its mission and vision and some of them supported us.

"We selected 10 secondary school students from different schools, three students from higher institutions, and six women engaged in small-scale businesses,” he explained.

" Those in the higher institutions we started with N50,000 for each student, those in secondary schools, we gave each of them N20,000 and those in the business category, we also started with N50,000 and once we have more funds we will still attend to more."

"And these students, we pray they don't well in their studies. Even we receive good reports concerning them by following session they will still be part of those to be considered with additional scholarships and by that time, with more funds we will be able to increase the amount that will be given to each of them."

Apostle Oluwafemi also expressed concern over the excessive use of mobile phones and social media among students, which he said was negatively affecting reading culture. He urged government at all levels to revive students’ interest in reading by introducing incentive-based programmes, such as scholarships , rewards and recognition of outstanding students.

In his goodwill message, Dr Olu Afolabi, a pastor and senior lecturer in one of the universities in Ekiti State, commended the facilitator and described the imitative as laudable. He urged the beneficiaries to spend the money judiciously." To all the student beneficiaries, please, spend the money given to you judiciously. This is a great opportunity that has come your way. Read your books, aim for the best and work towards it. Also to the women beneficiaries, use the money to support your businesses. Business mogul and the richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote started his business that has become giant today very small ."

Pastor Adesuyi Femi, in his goodwill message, praised the facilitator for coming up with the initiative.

" There is no legacy like education. This is not a small project. Education is good, please, face  your studies. What you are being given here today is a big gift. Bear in mind that it will multiply.  To the traders, you can start something with this token and if you have an existing business, use the money to support your business."

Some beneficiaries, including, Ikueduranni Fisayo, a 300-level student of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology ( BOUESTI) and Ojolo Favour, a 300-level student of the  College of Nursing Science, Ado-Ekiti, commended the facilitator and pledged to use the funds judiciously.

“This support will go a long way in helping me offset part of my tuition fees, i want to really appreciate the facilitator and i pray God will continue to replenish him,” Fisayo said.

In separate interviews, some of the secondary school beneficiaries such as Ogunleye Fredrick of BOBAS Science School, Ikere-Ekiti, Olanipekun David of Merit School,  Oladele Rachel of Ikere High School, and Olorunfemi Helen Busayo of St. Louis Grammar School, Ikere, described the gesture as a dream come true, promising to channel the funds toward school fees and a purchase of external examination forms. They all lauded the initiative and expressed their unreserved gratitude to the facilitator.

Parents of beneficiaries also lauded the programme, describing it as timely and divinely inspired. Mrs. Oluwole Olorunfemi said the selected students were academically sound but financially constrained, while Mr. Ajayi Isaac expressed confidence that the beneficiaries would make good use of the support.

Apostle Oluwafemi Julius, who was named Best Principal in Ekiti State in 2011 and Best Principal in Nigeria in 2012, is known for reaching out to the less privileged people across communities.