Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Blessed Gift, a Charity Foundation, founded by Gift Okolo, has offered scholarships to five (5) indigent pupils of Community Primary School, Onuogba, Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area.
The foundation also donated exercise books, maths sets and pencils to 40 pupils in the school.
The founder of the foundation, said though primary school pupils in Enugu State were under free education, Blessed Gift would cater for the exam fees, textbooks uniforms and other materials used by the beneficiaries.
Okolo, who was represented by a member of the foundation, Mrs Mariam Esowunne, said the foundation embarked on the humanitarian service to empower and encourage poor children in their educational pursuit.
Okolo said the act would further put smiles on the pupils’ faces, especially those who did not have anyone to assist them to achieve their dreams.
“This is why we are here today to assist them in our own little way and being a foundation that is just starting, we selected five most indigent among them.
“We will take care of them by providing their school fees and other materials throughout their primary school.
“As we progress, we hope to expand it to accommodate other pupils,” Okolo said.
She explained that they chose the school because they identified poor children there, adding that, “Looking at them, you will see that they need help.”
The founder revealed that when lives of such children were touched by little assistance, the society would be better for all to live in peace.
According to her, when they dropped out of school because of one challenge or the other, they will definitely join bad groups and this will in turn, affect the society.
She, however, appealed to the beneficiaries to be focused on their studies, stressing that, “they don’t have any excuse to make as to who will pay their school fees or buy other school requirements.”
Commending the foundation for finding the school worthy to benefit from its scholarship programme, the Headmistress of the school, Mrs Priscilla Umeh, said they did not expect the gesture. She, however, thanked them for the kind gesture, praying God to reward them.
A beneficiary and a primary five pupil, Oluebube Aleji, described the scholarship as a dream come through.
“I am happy and excited. I promise to study harder to achieve this dream,” he said.
