Indigent Egba and Yewa indigenes in higher institutions in Nigeria have cause to smile following the extension of the deadline on the N1 million scholarship fund instituted by their fellow brothers and sisters in the diaspora.
The Egba National Association (ENA) in US and Canada is giving out the princely money this year and had fixed the application deadline for January 31. But it has now been extended to February 13.
No fewer than 20 students would benefit from this scheme which is available on the association’s website http://www.egbanationaluscanada.org/, the Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, Chief Rasak Ayoola Soetan, explained. But, while announcing the extension, the ENA Secretary General, Mr. Ramon Babatunde Solabi, stated that the decision was taken in order to give more opportunities to the applicants to meet the requirements of the application.
“On behalf of the Scholarship Committee, we announce that the closing date of the 2015 Egba National Association scholarship award application submission has been extended till February 13, 2015,” Solabi stated in a release signed by the association’s Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Adesola Ayoola.
According to the release, the ENA National Chairman, Chief Bola Amen, in conjunction with the executive, approved the extension and explained further that the gesture was part of the association’s contributions to reduce the level of illiteracy among their people in Nigeria. Similarly, the release added that the scholarship idea was also to support fellow indigenes who are in financial need in pursuance of higher education and to encourage the younger ones to show more interest in education.
It would be recalled that 14 students in various higher institutions in Nigeria benefitted from the maiden scheme last year, with the presentation of cheques to beneficiaries by the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.
The presentation was held during the last Lisabi Day in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital with the immediate past National Chairman, Chief Olutoyin Oladipo, in attendance.
Femi SHODUNKE (Chief), is the PRESIDENT, Olumo Progressive Association Canada Inc., (A Nigerian ethnic group of Egba and Yewa indigenes in Canada)
