In an effort to giving back to the society and reducing illiteracy, youths restiveness, truancy, unemployment and unemployability amidst many social vices, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo state, Dr Fola Akinosun has provided scholarship opportunities for young school leavers across Ibarapaland.
To this end, over one hundred secondary school leavers in the area have been screened in the first batch of applicants under the Fola Akinosun Foundation.
The screening examination exercise which was held at Excel Model College, Igboora in Ibarapa central of Oyo state will have shortlisted candidates enrolled in the college of health sciences, college of education and ambros Alli University, Ekpoma, targeting Business management, Sciences and Arts courses.
Speaking with newsmen in Igboora, a consultant who conducted the screening exercise, Dr Victor Johnson said the scholarship forms had earlier been distributed to different wards and local governments in Ibarapa via the existing main stream structure of APC 30 wards of 3 local Government areas of Ibarapa land. However, non APC members would have opportunity to get the free forms in designated areas in the second batch; as the issue of youth education and empowerment must be addressed beyond political party divides.
Reacting, Dr Fola Akinosun, a philanthropist and educationist said the reason behind his scholarship initiatives was borne out of passion to reduce illiteracy, unemployment and unemployability among Nigerian youth starting from Oyo south senatorial district. He said his plan is towards taking our future leaders off the streets and making them gainfully employable, stressing that the country’s problem of insecurity started from multiplying rates of idle youth population.
Dr Akinosun disclosed that his scholarship programme for youths in Ibarapa land would be an annual exercise, hoping that it is very possible for all youths in oyo South senatorial district to be gainfully employed within ten years, to the extent of paying taxes to Government.
“Our youth are assets not liabilities if properly managed”
He said no amount of money is too much to spend on the educational empowerment of the youths, explaining that the country will be more viable, if her youths can be given needed capacity building.
The grassroot politician reassured the youths of his commitment to raising and supporting them to becoming good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria at large, especially, from the angle of enabling legislation in the future by the grace of God.
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