Bola, Atinuke Ige Scholarships Contest Holds Saturday

A total of 400 candidates from public schools in Oyo and Osun States will on April 16, 2016, participate in the Bola and Atinuke Ige Scholarship Contests in their respective states.

The memorial scholarship was instituted by the family of the late jurists to touch the lives of brilliant but indigent public school students in both states.

In a release by the deceased eldest child and Proprietress of The Vale College, Ibadan, Mrs. Funso Adegbola, the move to reward indigent students was borne out of her late father’s passion for free, qualitative education for the children of the poor, which was unrivalled as he implemented a programme of free education at all levels in Oyo State when he was governor.

She said his late wife, Justice Atinuke Ige, who distinguished herself at the bench lived all her life to bring succour and hope to those who had lost hope. “She was responsible for the education of many children from the ranks of the poor in the society up to university level. Many of these beneficiaries were not related to her in any way but they are making waves in the society today.”

Adegbola said in 2013, the family instituted a scholarship award in memory of Justice Atinuke Ige worth N2.5 million for each of the two winners annually. “It was for students in public secondary schools in Oyo and Osun States to have their Advanced Level Cambridge Examination studies at The Vale Tutorial College Ibadan. The past winners came from Command Secondary School Bode Igbo; Wesley College of Science Elekuro; Alayande School of Science; Government College; and Queens School Apata Ibadan.

“In 2014, the family initiated another scholarship award this time in memory of Chief Bola Ige. It was worth N12 million for each of the two winners every year. This is for students that are academically sound but whose parents are unable to finance their academic pursuits in public primary schools in Oyo and Osun States. The two winners (a male and a female) will have the opportunity of having their secondary education from JS1 to SS3 at The Vale College with all expenses paid by the Bola Ige family, including boarding fees.”

For the 2016 awards, Adegbola said 200 students from public primary schools in the two states would engage in a written test for the selection of 10 finalists. At the same time, another set of 200 students from public secondary schools in both states would also be involved in a written test to select another 10 finalists. The grand finale will hold on May 14, 2016 when the four lucky winners would emerge.