By Ediri Ejoh

The Sergius Oseasochie Ogun Foundation (SOOF), weekend rewarded final year secondary school students with free NECO/SSCE enrolment fees worth N9million, as well as scholarship to undergraduates from Esan South- East and Esan North- East Federal constituency in Edo State.

Specifically, the event which held at the Community Primary School Ubiaja, saw 600 students smiling home with the sum of N15, 000 each, to enable them enroll for the 2017 NECO/SSCE.

Meanwhile, a total of eight undergraduates were given scholarship grants of N100,000 each, just as the overall best six candidates in the 2016/2017 SOOF Free NECO/SSCE enrolment Mock exam were granted scholarship to any university of their choice in Nigeria.

Overall best six students granted scholarship: From left to right, Omonjiahio Silas, Agadaga Secondary School Ewohimi, Ogbaisi Priscilla, Okhuesan Secondary School, Aiguehiven Favour, Edeikholor Grammar School, Hon.Deacon Sergius Oseasochie Ogun, President SOOF, Iguanre Daniel, Obeidu Secondary School Uromi , Okholo Divine, Federal Science and Technical College Uromi, Ibharale Felicity, Holy Trinity School Uromi, while honoured with automatic university scholarship by Sergius Oseasochie Ogun Foundation(SOOF).
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Speaking at the opening ceremony at Ubiaja, the President of the Foundation and Member representing Esan North East/South East Federal Constituency, Hon.( Barr.) Deacon Sergius Ogun, called on all beneficiaries to make good use of the cash grants, adding that the greatest investment needed to revamp the economy of the country is that of education.

He also called on the students to stay focus on their academic pursuit, which according to him, is the greatest gift to excel in life.

Ogun, lamented “frightening slide in students’ academic performance”, blaming it on government failure to provide meaningful manpower and infrastructure for effective learning.

He said, “It is disheartening that government at all tiers have not provided basic infrastructure, manpower and conducive learning environment for our children to learn effectively, hence we have continued to experience a frightening downward slide in the academic performance of our students”

He task government at all levels to raise the budgets for education, recruit more teachers and provide adequate and quality infrastructures to deal with the challenge at hand while also charging parents and teachers to pay more attention to encouraging their wards to imbibe the culture of reading.

However, overall best six final year secondary school students that were granted scholarship by the foundation, includes: “Omonjahio Silas, Agadaga Secondary School, Ewohimi, Ogbaisi Priscilla, Okhuesan Secondary School, Okhuesan and Aiguehiven Favour, Edeikholor grammar school, Ubiaja, from Esan South East.

For Esan South East, the awarded are: “Omonjahio Silas, Agadaga secondary school, Ewohimi, Ogbaisi Priscilla, Okhuesan secondary school, Okhuesan and Aiguehiven Favour, Edeikholor grammar school, Ubiaja.

Also, Esan north- east, were not left out as Iguanre Daniel, Obeidu grammar school, Uromi, Okholo Divine, federal science and technical college Uromi and Ibharale Felicity, Holy Trinity school in Uromi, were awarded scholarship.

Furthermore, dignitaries present at the ceremony included: the Enijie of Esan Land: HRM Anslem Edenojie II, JP, MFR, the Onojie of Uromi, HRH Curtis Iredia, the Onojie of Ubiaja, HRH Stephen Ukato, the Onojie of Ugboha, HRH S. Ikhumhen, the Onojie of Ewatto, HRH Solomon Ojeaga, the Onojie of Ujiogba, HRH Ehizojie, the Onojie of Ohordua and others).

Other political officials present includes; Sen. Odion Ugbesia, Hon. John Yakubu, Prince Solomon Aguele, Hon. Ezehi MD Igbas, Elder Johnny Abhulimhen, Hon. Prince Amen Iseghohi, Sir Fred Oreke JP, among others.