The Obol Lopon of Ugep and paramount ruler of Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State, HRH Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng, says the decision of the Aspire Educational Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, NGO, to provide financial support to indigent students of Yakurr from less privileged backgrounds to pursue their academic or skills training programmes, stands highly commended and showcases positive progress made and directed at the Yakurr nation by the indigent persons behind the foundation.
The monarch who made this commendation at a well attended beneficiary induction ceremony for the first batch of 32 persons to receive financial support from the Aspire Educational Foundation, also advised the beneficiaries to make good use of this opportunity so that the foundation will be challenged to do more.
Kasi Usani, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Aspire Educational Foundation, at the event, charged the recepients to work hard in their academics/ training, to sustain the excellent records of who gets selected and invariably, justify their individual awards without which the Foundation would have no option but to withdraw their scholarship or apprenticeship grants as contained in the terms and conditions attached.
Earlier, the Chairman of Yakurr LGA, Ofem Ebri Obeten, assured the Foundation that the council will partner her in sustaining the visible gains of this initiative. He was however quick to caution the beneficiaries not to see this initiative as a windfall, but must deliberately use this opportunity to better their lives for the good of the individuals and the immediate community.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with www.calitown.com, while expressing happiness, commended the foundation for giving them the opportunity to take a giant leap forward in pursuit of their dream. They were unanimous that they will not let the foundation down.
10 beneficiaries in the tertiary school category, 10 in the secondary school category while 12 recepients in the skill acquisition category, became part of the initial 32 beneficiaries that were handed several sums of money, in an arrangement that will see the foundation periodically monitor and evaluate the performance/progress of beneficiaries in their various institutions and vocations of learning throughout the duration of the scholarship programme. The foundation will also provide beneficiaries with career mentorship during and after the completion of their educational pursuits or apprenticeships.