Maiden scholarship award day of the Friday Osanebi Foundation

·         Raising giants and empowering society

·         Friday Osanebi fast emerging as Empowerment master of Delta state politics

Saturday, March 5, 2016 is a day that 60 students of tertiary institutions and post-primary schools and their parents and guardians will not forget in a hurry. It was a day that a young politician and legislature, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi, deputy speaker of Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA) touched their lives in very remarkable way through the Friday Osanebi Foundation (FOF).

Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi

With a slogan that appeals to the mind, “Raising Giants and empowering society”, an ethos that speaks volumes of the progressive mindedness of the persona of Friday Osanebi,  the FOF spoke of its raison d’etre, kicking off its maiden agenda of raising giants and empowering society  with its 2016 Undergraduate /post-primary Education scholarship award.

That day, Friday Osanebi rightly earned what is fast becoming his sobriquet, “Empowerment master of Delta state Politics, another feather to his rising political profile in the State as a politician with the heart of gold to turn around the fortunes of the poor and down trodden masses of the society.

The scholarship award presentation that took place at the Duncan Hotel, Asaba, near the offices of NTA and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had a modest crowd of audience, that included associates of Friday Osanebi, government appointee, parents and guardians of the young recipients, and, indeed, the principal of the secondary school that the deputy speaker attended, Foundation secondary school in attendance. Osanebi remembered his alma mater, and gave very generous scholarship awards to no fewer than 40 students of that school. The cheques for the awards were handed over to the principal.

An interesting part of the attendance records was the lavish recognition given to journalists, by Mr. Oyibosochukwu, press secretary to the Deputy Speaker, himself an accomplished journalist. He took yours truly and Mr. William Bozimo (Uncle willy Bee) by surprise, with accolades and refined acknowledgement as we strolled into the venue, introducing us as veteran Nigerian journalists, hinting that our presence at the event underscored the importance of the event of the day.  He graciously invited us to be part of those seated on the high table.  

No fewer than 60 students attending various tertiary institutions benefitted from the scholarship awards of the FOF, with the highest award of N150,000 received by the two students who emerged first and second respectively, in the competitive qualifying examination organized to shortlist beneficiaries. Others received N100,000 each.

Organized by the education arm of the FOF, Head of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Mr. Obinne Abanachi, said the FOF is a platform for empowerment. “We are also letting you know that the scholarship scheme will see the beneficiaries through school as long as they continue to make 3.5 GP level their studies in school,” he said.

Speakers poured eulogies on Rt. Hon. Osanebi for being large hearted even as a young man for his rare empowerment initiative. Mr. Nnamdi Ezechi, a commissioner of the Delta state Oil Producing and Development commission, (DESOPADEC), urged beneficiaries of the scholarship award to put in their best efforts in their academic pursuits as a way  appreciating the efforts of Friday Osanebi and justifying his good intentions in instituting the awards. Hon. Alex Aniche, a senior special assistant (special projects) to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, commended Friday Osanebi  for considering to help the beneficiaries. “ You to work hard to meet the attached condition for maintaining and sustaining the scholarship from beginning to the end,” he admonished.

The National secretary of Ndokwa National Movement Worldwide remarked that praised the courage of Rt. Hon. Osanebi for daring to thread where others will not. “This is something that has not been done before”, he declared, pointing out that the deputy speaker has written his name into the hearts of youths in the state as a leader to trust and believe in.

Rt. Hon. Osanebi, with a handsome ever smiling face and an athletic physique, first proved that he has a heart for our Lord Jesus Christ, as he led the entire congregation in several worship songs acknowledging, and returning the glory of whatever that was being done by him to God. Besides, he led the congregation in prayers for the success of the Governor Okowa in the arduous task of leading the state to prosperity. “Governor Okowa must succeed,” he prayed earnestly.

With veneration of the Almighty God and prayers over, Osanebi made it clear that he has told the management and staffs of the Friday Osanebi Foundation (FOF) to detach the foundation from politics. “We must differentiate politics from this Foundation,” he said. And to recipients of the scholarship award, he said they should feel comfortable with what is going on, saying: “Your matter should be my matter. Be committed to your studies, and avoid cultism. Don’t go into what will make you sound not serious.”

He announced to the admiration of all that even the multinational oil companies are interested in the products of the scholarship scheme, as they will grant automatic employment to the best 10 graduating students from FOF scholarship scheme.

The recipients, through their colleague, the female that emerged first in the qualifying examination, and who received N150,000 cheque thanked the FOF for impacting the lives of the beneficiaries. She promised that she and her colleagues will surpass the condition given them to justify awards.