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| Executive Secretary, Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board, Hon. Sunny Orishedere presents cheque to Mr. Abel Jonathan. |
Fortune
today, Friday, September 27, 2019, smiled at Mr. Abel Maviano Jonathan, the
wunderkind from Enhwe, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State when
the Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board presented to him a cheque for
academic brilliance to enable him pursue masters and Ph.D studies.
Mr.Jonathan,
a first class graduate of mathematics from Delta State University, Abraka
received the cheque for an undisclosed amount presented by the Executive
Secretary of the Board, Hon Sunny Orishedere, at a brief but impressive
ceremony in the expansive office of the executive secretary in Asaba.
Jonathan, a
23 years old orphan, lost his both parents to death; his father, late Jonathan Owarie
died 15 years ago, and his mother, late Mrs. Roseline Owarie died 13 years ago.
He made 4.91, making him the best first
class material since DELSUS’s inception, and an overall all time best student. He
was accompanied to the event by one of his uncles, Barrister Bayagbon David.
Presenting
the cheque, Hon. Orishedere said: “What we are doing today is our usual way of showing
to the youths of Delta state, especially that this administration is committed
to encouraging them to any positive height they may want to attain.
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| Mr. Abel Jonathan. |
“The state
government didn’t even know that he is an orphan. Government just made the
policy to come to the aid of exceptionally brilliant students of the state
origin to encourage them. Abel is an example that every Delta child needs to
emulate. His determination has brought
him to this height. He did not feel that he has no parents; a situation that
would have made someone to lose hope and resort to doing negative things,” the
Executive secretary said.
He
continued: “We thank you for making Delta State proud. We are happy to see and
to hear that Deltans are excelling in their various fields of endeavour. To
have made this possible, Delta State Government wants to encourage you. Delta
State Government wants to encourage outstanding youths of the state to achieve
and reach the best heights.”
Orishedere
then hand to Jonathan the letter of scholarship award and the first cheque to
enable him pursue post graduate studies.
Jonathan’s
uncle, representing his parents, Barrister David Bayagbon thanked Governor
Ifeanyi Okowa and the Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board for being magnanimous
and caring. “This is an encouragement. I was there when Governor Okowa made the
promise to help indigent but brilliant students, and today, that promise is
being fulfilled.”
Expressing
his appreciation for the government’s good gesture and aid to him, the
recipient, Mr. Jonathan said: “I thank God for this support and I believe that
it will help me to achieve my height. I
thank the Scholarship Board for this support.”
Jonathan,
who came out as the best overall student for the 2017/2018 academic session, is
also the overall all time best student with 4.91 in the history of Delta State
University. He pledged to be useful to the state by
playing his own good part on completion of his post graduate studies.
Speaking to
journalists later, Jonathan said he was inspired by the pushing of his aunty,
and that the first result he had as an undergraduate he made all ‘As’ and one ‘B’.
“When I entered the university, first class was not on my mind. The grace of God helped me,” he said,
pointing out that “I put away my browsing phone. There were days we studied for 15 hours.
“Once I resumed
at school I avoided all social events. I can’t remember being in any social
gathering apart from going to church. I never eyed any girl. I was not eyeing
girls. I was nick named the Reading Room.”
To the youth
like him, Jonathan said: “It might take long, it might take a while but don’t
give up. There are honest ways to making money, and that money is not
everything. To Delta youth, I want to encourage them to understand that making
fast money does not pay in the long run.
Just make money through the right way.
“I had financial
challenges; I never had luxury in school, yet, I did not suffer. I ate. And I am
very grateful to y family people. Sometimes, I had to go to people, who are
ahead of me to seek help,’ Jonathan disclosed.
On what he wants to be and do in life, he
said: “My ambition is not just to be lecturer. I want to apply this knowledge.
Mathematics is about solving problems. I want to solve problems. I want to come
out to help develop models that will help to solve human problems. I thank God
for my uncles and aunties who took care of me and my siblings.”
Congratulations Sir Abel
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