Doctor converts N50m donation into helping the poor and needy in society
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
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He said having been trained through the scholarship scheme of Anyim, he too needs to train others, to help the poor and needy in society.
“Every community has poor people but among the poor people, there are the poorest of the poor. We [my family] were among those that are called the poorest of the poor such that even poor people called us poor.
“We were so poor that we couldn’t afford food but [by] God, through various people, we were able to solve that [misery] and today, the story is [different].”
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A medical doctor has converted more than N50 million contributed by friends for his mother’s funeral into scholarship grants to girls, women, and others, bucking the African culture that wastes resources on the dead while the living lack.
Gideon Osi announced the donation at the funeral of Rebecca his mother in Ishiagu in Ebonyi, expressing concern that many girl children in the state are not able to access basic and tertiary education.
He gave an assurance the scholarships would assist the beneficiaries in their pursuit of education.
“N50 million has been put together for this event by my friends, associates, clubs and good-spirited Nigerians but I know that God has provided what will take mama’s event to the level that she expected it,” Osi said.
“So, I discussed with my wife and we decided that all that contribution, we will use it to train the children of the poor. We are going to go beyond Ishiagu and Ebonyi State.
“We will commit the entire fund, over N50 million, to scholarship in appreciation of mama’s life.
“More women will benefit from that scholarship programme, and more girls, because when you train a woman, the effect is too magnanimous.”
Osi said 46 graduates have been trained in different skills in Ebonyi in his desire to promote literacy and human capital development.
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Following the good example of Anyim
Osi disclosed he would not have been a graduate without the scholarship scheme of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, who gave scholarships to 200 students when he was Senate President.
He said having been trained through the scholarship scheme of Anyim, he too needs to train others, to help the poor and needy in society, per Vanguard.
“Every community has poor people but among the poor people, there are the poorest of the poor. We [my family] were among those that are called the poorest of the poor such that even poor people called us poor.
“We were so poor that we couldn’t afford food but [by] God, through various people, we were able to solve that [misery] and today, the story is [different].
“Today, I feel much more fulfilled watching my mother go home the way she wanted it. She always told me that there will be joy when she dies and now, it is exactly the way it is.”