Fides Media Living the Faith
In line with the vision of the founder of Okwuanyionu Foundation, Chief Dr. Josephat Kanayo Okoye (Onwa Anaocha), to annually give opportunity to intelligent children of Anaocha Local Government Area, via a competitive scholarship scheme consistent with his drive for hard work and academic excellence, the foundation has, this year, awarded free scholarships additionally to 10 successful pupils in the Junior Secondary School (JSS) category and 10 pupils in the Senior Secondary School (SSS) for the 2022/2023 academic session. The scholarship programme is for 3 years in each category.
Chief Dr. J.K. Okoye was the best in his class during his formative years, but had a humble beginning and he could not have reached his current height if not for the opportunity of scholarships awarded him for his Secondary School Education by the Church and by the Federal Government of Nigeria for his overseas university studies.
He did not forget. In 2017, he instituted his lifelong ambition to extend similar opportunities to some intelligent children from the 10 towns of Anaocha Local Government Area by instituting annual scholarship awards to at least the best 10 students entering JSS 1 and the best 10 interested students entering SS 1 in the local government area. Note that in some years, when a situation arises that the tenth position is shared by two people, those two will be taken, making it eleven at the sponsor’s discretion.
These 20 lucky children from the various communities in the local government area in the programme every academic session will be joining 40 others currently on the scholarship programme to bring a total of 60 JS and SS students in the programme every academic session.
The award is for N35,000.00 and N45,000.00 each for the JSS and SSS categories, respectively. However, for the graduation class, the award is for N40,000 and N65,000.00 for the JSS3 and SS3, respectively.
Though the scholarship is free, the selection process is designed to throw up the best. The candidates pass through rigorous aptitude tests in the English Language, Mathematics and General Paper/Basic Sciences (JSS1/SS1 respectively).
The award is not however without conditions bordering on good morals and hard work which are the major ethos of the founder. The beneficiaries must demonstrate and maintain moral and academic excellence in order to remain in the scheme.
As we congratulate and celebrate the winners, we enjoin them to be hard working and of good behavior, while praying God to bless Dr. J.K. Okoye, the benefactor, with long life and good health.