*Spends about N1million on 25 beneficiaries
*Parents of beneficiaries pray for the benefactors*Fatima Old Boys too
By Ada Okafor
After successfully conducting the 13th Lady Patricia Uzodinma Orji Educational Trust Fund, 13 indigenes of Aguobu-Owa in Ezeagu Local Government Area, Enugu State, have been selected for the annual scholarship, sponsored by Ozo (Dr.) Ferdinand Mary Ejike Orji.
The scholarship programme put together in honour of his late mother, Lady Patricia Uzodinma Orji, has so far seen over 26 primary and secondary school pupils benefit.
The event brings together desirous primary 6 pupils who are studying in public and missionary schools in the two autonomous communities of Eziowa and Ozom in Aguobu-Owa, in a competitive examination conducted by clergymen and education inspectors drawn from the LGA’s Education Inspectorate.
Making the outcome public through the community’s Aguobu-Owa Patriots Forum, after effecting payment of the school fees of the affected children into their separate dedicated accounts, Dr. Orji, Chairman of the Trust Fund stated:”Good morning to you all. Greetings from the Lady PU Orji Educational Foundation Trust.
“Once again, by early August 2021, after the results of this year’s scholarship exams were released, it was a race against time to fulfill the obligations of the Trust Fund in paying the awardees.
“The battle was fierce, it had never been this bad, just to fulfill the financial obligations this year. But our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
“Albeit, we expanded the scheme by one scholar this year(5, instead of 4), to accommodate the unusual situation wherein a brilliant student who came 4th had to be displaced by the principle of “the best 2 males and the best 2 females”. This change, this variation, is a rise, and not a drop.
“We thank the good Lord for providing, always”.
Ozo (Dr.) Orji set up the foundation to encourage and provide succor to mainly indigent pupils who are holed up in the rural community, so they could attain their aspirations to aspire to greater heights in academics.Dr. Orji who funds the Educational Trust from his personal and family earnings, is a consummated medical doctor cum media professional, but has been pursuing this desire to see the emergence of an egalitarian society where the kindergarten and the youth would have no impediment at attaining any height academically.
Aside the procision of money for their school fees which is paid into a dedicated personal account opened for each of the beneficiaries in the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Dr. Orji and family also makes available another amount of money for each of the beneficiaries for the purchase of books and school uniform.
Mr. Titus Ozoude, one of the assessors, during the competitive examination, extolled the sterling attributes of Dr. Orji in that regard.Also, father of one of the beneficiaries, Mr. Sampson Ezieke, prayed God to guide, protect, enlarge and uplift Dr. Orji for always remembering the indigent snd down trodden in our community.
“He is not the only wealthy man in our community, neither is he the only enlightened personality, but he stands shoulds higher than the rest in this regard.
“It is not because my son is one of the beneficiaries, what Dr. Orji is doing has wipped away tears from several indigent families in our communities, who almost developed BP over the payment of the token school fees for their children.
“This also reminds me of a similar scholarship programme mounted by members of the Fatima High School Old Boys Association where more than 40 untellectually gifted and indigent students of Aguobu-Owa High School are yearly paid their school fees and the entire secondary school provided with assorted sporting kits for their annual Inter House Competition.
“That group is led by Maj-Gen. Victor Okwudili Ezugwu, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Chief Malachy Uzendu and Ezenwata Goddy Emeka Ibe, to mention just these.
“They are a beacon of light in our LGA. Their major interest is to uplift the plight of the poor by providing them with opportunity to improve on access to education. “And they do all these from their meagre resources. I pray that God should continue to bless and uplift them, amen”.
Also, Mr. G. Ume, father of Mmesoma Ume, a beneficiary of the FHSOBA scholarship programme, commended the Old Boys of the school for always being there to support the indigent and bright students of their alma-mater.
