Differentiate yourselves from street children – Benue Speaker tells students
By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
As Grassroots Support for Tinubu under the aeges of The 1019 Initiative released about 30million naira to the management of Benue state University for onward disbursement as scholarship to indigent students in tertiary institutions cut across the state, the honourable Speaker of the 10th Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.
Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, has challenged the indigent students who are direct beneficiaries and the entire students across the state tertiary institutions to always differentiate themselves from street children by exhibiting total decorum and avoiding social vices.
The Speaker also explained that is not by boosting that you are a University students that matters but the outlook and what you could be able to do that can add value to the society after your school that matters.
The Honourable Speaker and the Vice Chairman North Central, Conference of Speaker’s of State Legislatures in Nigeria who was represented by his amiable wife, Hon. Mrs. Kundumiyol Cynthia Dajoh, made this known in an address at the Auditorium, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi during the official disbursement of scholarship to over 200 indigent students in tertiary institutions across the state were each of the student is expected to take home the sum of N150,000 each, expressed delight to the generosity of the scholarship convener.
He however expressed worry over the conduct of some students who compromise their future for useless things at the expense of their poor parents.
“Some of us never had the opportunity to access such benefits but still remain focused and committed to my studies which had led me to the position I am today as the wife of the Speaker, let your conscience speak to you.
“You are receiving scholarship today but remember to whom much is given much is expected, therefore, be prepared to do exactly what the convener is doing today for the overall interest of the State at large”. Speaker maintained.
The Speaker also tasked parents particularly the women folk to always pay uninformed visits to their female children in their respective institutions of learning to monitor their academic activities.
“Don’t sit and watch your female children learning in tertiary institutions without any source of money apart from you wearing expensive clothes, monitor and ask them closely and by doing so, you will accertain whether something is going wrong”. He advised.
He thanked the Vice Chancellor of Benue state University for changing the narrative of the institution under his watch and providing a conducive environment for the scholarship exercise to take place.
The Speaker commended his twin brother and the initiator and convener of the Scholarship for having the plight of Benue students at heart, saying that God will replenish him abundantly.
Earlier, the vice Chancellor of BSU, Professor Joe Iorapuu, described the scholarship exercise as commendable.
He explained that the University is about 30 years old and has been receiving same gesture from individual, groups and organizations.
The vice chancellor explained that the institution does not give room for any political gatherings but the Tinubu sponsored scholarship has to do with the students directly and that was why it was allowed to take place in the institution.
He disclosed that very soon accommodation problem faced by students of the institution will become a thing of the past as the institution under his leadership is working in collaboration with Africa Plus Organization to construct hostel accommodation that will provide over 1600 bed spaces on the campus.
He commended the convener of the scholarship to cushioning the hardship faced by students of the state in the pursuit of their academic career.
The vice chancellor further explained that the institution has a laid down precedence of due process for selecting students for scholarships of this kind however, regretted that the beneficiaries did not undergo the procedures.
He promised that the institution will ensure proper monitoring and ensure that the money is used for the purpose for which it was meant by the students.
The Tiv paramount ruler His royal majesty Prof. James Ayatse represented by Ter Makurdi, HRH Chief Aule elugiesed the convener for the kind gesture and enjoined well to do Benue sons and daughters to emulate him by providing more opportunities of the scholarships to Benue students.
In his remarks, the initiator and convener of the Grassroots Support for Tinubu scholarship scheme, Mr. Tersoo David Ukechir, said the scholarship is to complement the good work that his mentor President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing for the country and particularly Benue state.
“Mr. President who is my mentor loved the students of Benue state and Benue being my state, I also loved the students of Benue state particularly the most vulnerable students whom are my target for the scholarship.” Tersoo maintained.
Nigerian NewsDirect reports that personalities who graced the occasion were; Chief Paul Edeh ESQ, Chairman Benue State Football Association and the Chairman Raw Gold Group, Ter Ukuna, HRH Nyiyongo Achiaku, Ter Makurdi, HRH Aule,Hon. Jacob Nevkaa, PSA to the Governor on Youths and students affairs among other personalities.
