Subsidy: Foundation Awards Scholarship to  50 Indigent Varsity  Students from C’River

Bassey Inyang in Calabar

Following additional pressure brought on the economy of ordinary Nigerians as a result of the removal of the fuel subsidy by the federal government, at least 50 indigent university students from the 18 local government areas of Cross River State have been awarded scholarship by a charity organisation, Florence Agogo Foundation.

The announcement was made at the weekend at a dinner organised by the Foundation in collaboration with the National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS) Worldwide.

Speaking at the event, which was held in Calabar, the state capital, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Mrs. Florence Ago, said the award of the scholarship was in reaction to the adverse economic effects the removal of fuel subsidy have visited on many Nigerians, especially the indigent people in society.

According to her, “This is a dinner event of the National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS) Worldwide in collaboration with Florence Agogo Foundation.” 

“So, it’s a dinner and a scholarship disbursement and award night.

“Florence Agodo Foundation is a charity organisation that specialises in the need of children. Our areas of focus are healthcare, education and empowerment.

“In the area of education, we looked around the 18 local government areas of Cross River State, and selected our beneficiaries.

“I am a Cross Riverian from Obudu Local Government Area, and overtime, I have tried my best to see how we can help to improve the academic sojourn of the indigents in our midst.

“So, when the president of NACRISS reached out to me, I felt that in this kind of event, we needed to have the presence of all the benefiting students so that we can assist them in the payment of their school fees, faculty fees, transportation, house rent, feeding and others.”

Agogo said the award, which is an annual event, was the Foundation’s modest way of helping indigent students of Cross River State origin in achieving their educational dreams.

She said the award to the indigent students could not have come at a better time when the removal of fuel subsidy has made Nigerians to go through economic difficulties.

The CEO of the Foundation said no stone would be left unturned towards ensuring the sustenance of the award, which she disclosed cuts across the payment of school fees, faculty fees, student house rent, transportation fare, feeding and other needs.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, and Special Adviser on General Duties to Cross River State governor, Mr. Ekpenyong Akiba, commended the Foundation and the organisers of the award ceremony for complimenting the efforts of the state government in the education sector.

Akiba, who was one of the honorary awardees, said the Foundation’s bursary award to the indigent students tallies with the policy trust of Governor Bassey Otu’s administration.

“The award is commendable. It’s a call for more responsibilities and it’s a way of encouraging us to do more as a government. This award would not have been possible without the impact and support of the governor, in terms of his support and recognition of this segment of society, which is Cross River State students,” he said.

While presenting an honorary award to the chairman of the event and other awardees, the NACRISS President, Akpeke Peter, said the award was in recognition of Cross Rivarians who have impacted positively in the lives of students in the state.

Peter congratulated the students who benefited from the Florence Agogo Foundation gesture, and commended the Foundation for partnering NACRISS towards providing all the necessary support to the needy students.