The 1990 set of St. Anthony Secondary School, Ilorin Old Students’ Association (SASSOSA 90), has given scholarships to eight students of the school.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the scholarship awarded to the students was done in conjunction with a foundation, FASOB.
In a brief ceremony at the School Hall, on Thursday in Ilorin, one of the Old Students, Mrs Olorunishola Babalola, said the scholarship was given to encourage the students and their parents.
“We here to show love. We want you to put more efforts, so that you can become something in the future” Babalola said.
Presenting the items to the students before their parents, Mrs Dupe Mabayoje, of the SASSOSA 90 members, announced that apart from the books, writing materials, school uniform, the beneficiaries’ school fees have been paid.
Mrs Mabayoje, further explained that the parents of the benefitting students were given cash for their feeding and some tokens for their transportation to school for the year.
“We are here to give back to what the school has given to us. Please see this as a token, we know it cannot be enough but we want to show we care” Mabayoje said.
In his remark, the Chairman of the scholarship Committee, Pastor Bolaji Ige, said the beneficiaries have shown over time they are hard working.
He said the aim was to assist the students to focus on their studies.
“We want you to focus on your studies because we are going to continue, we are going to select better performing students next year and it still could be you again.
“No matter what life throws at you, God makes a way” Pastor Ige said.
One of the beneficiaries, Fareedah Mahmud, said she is very happy and excited about the scholarship.
She said the gesture would encourage her to get more focus and make her family proud by always coming out in flying colours.
Another beneficiary, Miracle Igwe, said
SASSOSA 90 has given her an opportunity to make her parents happy.
The Junior Secondary School (JSS 3) students expressed the hope that she will become something in the future and give back just like the way she haf received from the SASSOSA 90 set.
Sawel Ibok, a senior secondary school (SS 1), students said she will work hard enough to make the SASSOSA 90 set happy in the future because they had brought her joy.
One of the parents of the beneficiaries, Mrs Comfort Etuk-ibok, a widow, said sometime, she find it difficult to pay her child’s school fees but was full of gratitude when she got the news.
“I was surprised when I was told my child (Sawel), will receive scholarship, I asked God what I did to deserve the honour.
“Sometime, I can’t even afford to pay her school fee, throughout yesterday I couldn’t sleep, waiting for today to come and see if it is real” Etuk-ibok said.
Another parent, Mrs Halimat Apata, a single mother, who according to her raised Fareedah from birth to date, expressed delight over SASSOSA 90’s gesture.
Mrs Apata said her daughter has always making herself proud as well as the family members even as she gave thanks to God for the opportunity.
The Vice Principal (Administration) of the school, Mrs Mary Kolo, said the school had always rely on the old students to get the environment put in place a conducive conditions for learning.
“We are delighted and glad that things like this are happening, we enjoyed fellowship with the old students.
“The old students are the ones we have in the renovation of the buildings, everytime we are with you people we always delighted” Mrs Kolo said.
In his message to the occasion, the President of SASSOSA 90, Mr Toyin Ibitoye, said this is the beginning of many things they intend to do for their alma mater.
The message delivered by Pastor Bolaji Ige, reminded the school of when he donated some sporting equipment and jerseys to the school some years ago.
Ibitoye an Aide to the Sports Minister, Mr Sunday Dare, promised further support to the school based on the old students’ capacity and capability.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of SASSOSA 90, Mr Femi Bolaji, sent his best wishes from his base in United States of America (USA), saying the his set will continue to identify with the school.
He urged the students to be focus so that they can also contribute their quota to the development of the country through what it had offered them.
The event was attended by parents, members of SASSOSA 90, students and well wishers.
