Touching Lives Through Education

David-Chyddy Eleke captures the happy moments of students of Queen of the Rosary College who recently completed secondary education with from Chike Okagbue Foundation, COF

Out of the over 85 beautifully dressed and visibly happy students of Queen of the Rosary College (QRC), Eziowelle, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State that were celebrating their graduation, nine of them seemed to express more happiness than the others. They were students on the scholarship of Chike Okagbue Foundation (COF). The charity was established in memory of late Chief Chike Okagbue in 2008.

Okagbue, a powerful businessman and founder and first Chief Executive officer of Bessoy Group died in 2004. His conglomerate, Bessoy
Group was into oil, scientific equipment, cement and textile. He was an accomplished businessman and an illustrious son of Umunachi in Dunkofia local government area of Anambra State. Though he did not have formal education, Okagbue’s love for education was legendary. Unable to achieve his dream of being formally educated, he ensured that his children and other less privileged persons enjoyed what he did not have.

The business guru was known to have a very rich library; with works of some of the best philosophers, politicians and historians on his shelves. To honour his memory, his first child, Chinelo Bob-Osamor, set up the Chike Okagbue Foundation ( COF) with the hope of having their father fulfill his dream of having as many indigent children as possible acquire formal education. The foundation operates with the motto ‘Touching lives’.

This dream was recently fulfilled as; Ezennia Cynthia, Isiuzo Chidiebele, Eke Adaobi, Okoye Chinenye, Nwankwo Chinedu, Ofuonye Obalum, Ogbuka Uzoma, Ogalagu Francis and Odoh Ikechukwu completed secondary education on the scholarship of COF.
Chief RKC Chinyelugo, the principal of the school, said that the school generally maintains a high level of discipline. He commended the COF scholars for behaving like they are from same parents. He said this may stem from an orientation they were given. He added that they were never engaged in untoward activities.

Bob-Osamor said, “The Foundation awards scholarship on merit to students who have excelled in Common Entrance Examinations. The Foundation currently has 60 students, and offers full scholarships, covering junior and senior secondary schools. Three sets of students have graduated from the secondary school through the foundation since 2015. We have plans to start the tertiary phase of the Foundation.”