The I.G. Aguowo Health and Academic Foundation (IGAHAF) over the weekend, upped the number of beneficiaries under its scholarship scheme to six hundred and seventy (670), following its award of full-time scholarships to an additional 250 beneficiaries drawn from different parts of the country.
The foundation, founded in August 2021, aims to bridge the educational gap and provide opportunities for talented and deserving students to achieve their dreams.
Also at the event held at the International Conference Centre, Awka, which marked the 3rd education seminar and 5th edition of the scholarship, the sum of N350,000 and a laptop were presented to each best student in the Primary, Junior Secondary, and Senior Secondary sections.
Also, six exceptional students of Christ the King College, CKC Onitsha, who emerged winners at a debating competition in the USA, got a cash reward of N200,000 each, while the best-performed students in the IGAHAF Entrance Examinations got the sum of N150,000 each.
The Executive Director of the Foundation, Mrs. Gloria Ugonnia Abanihe, said the gesture is based on the foundation’s firm belief that education is key to a prosperous and equitable society, as well as a key that unlocks the door to a brighter future at all levels.
While noting that the Foundation has remained steadfast in pursuing this vision over the years, Mrs. Abanihe also cited some of the numerous health and educational projects and programs so far undertaken by the Foundation, with thousands of beneficiaries scattered across the country.
In a remark, the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, described the Foundation’s activities as supportive of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision for the education sector of the State, adding that it is also in line with the Public Private Community Partnership (PPCP) Model of the Governor Soludo Administration, which advocates the government, the private sectors/individuals, and community joining hands to foster development.
“This is the true definition of wealth, where one can impart the lives of people around them and not just enjoy alone.
“We call on other individuals like Chief Aguowo, to borrow a leaf from him and make inputs towards the betterment of the state education system,” Chuma-Udeh appealed.
In a keynote speech, Barr. Mrs Nwando Obiano, who was a school teacher to the benefactor, lauded his generosity.
She condemned the fact that many people today are ingrate, while some others prefer to be over-dependent on their helpers, tasking the beneficiaries to be serious in their studies, make the foundation proud, and acquire relevant skills in addition to their studies.
A philanthropist and former governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Engr. Johnbosco Onunkwo, who said Aguowo’s gesture represents service to humanity and aligns with the advocacy of the Rotary Club Int’l, also emphasized that everyone should always endeavor to impact others’ lives and be beneficial to society in one way or another.
“If we can set out part of our god-given wealth to touch lives, you will find that there would be fewer poor people around and a lot of crimes will reduce.
“The IG Aguowo foundation is setting a good precedent by this gesture and helping the society grow in a positive light,” he said.
In a vote of thanks, the benefactor, Chief Aguowo said his philanthropy was a dream he had nurtured since his school days, and expressed his gladness that the dream has come to reality.
He recalled that he also came from a poor background and understood what it means to experience severe hardship, which made him resolve to support and lift others and revive hope with his God-given wealth.
“So, what I’m doing is what I like doing. And, anybody who tries to discourage me from doing that will cease to be my friend,” he said.
Chief Aguowo, while attesting that Nigeria, and Anambra State in particular, are doing well educationally, judging from the various trophies their students have been clinching, both at the national and international levels, among other indices; however, observed that the government alone cannot sustain this upward rise, hence the need for private sector’s involvement as his Foundation is doing, all in the spirit of the PPCP model and building a better society.
