Oveysha Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation, has offered a three-year scholarship to Osh’pa Obadiah, daughter of Obadiah Awu, a deceased lecturer of the College of Education Akwanga, Nasarawa State.
Mr Obey Albert-Bashayi, Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the foundation, represented by Mr Angbashim John, announced the offer, on Sunday, in Akwanga, at the launch of a book written by the deceased.
The posthumous publication titled, ‘A History of Administration and Politics in Eggon Land in Central Nigeria, 1907-2013” emanated from the PhD thesis of the deceased.
Albert-Bashayi said the foundation would sponsor the daughter, currently in St Peter’s Nursery and Primary School Akwanga, for three years to reduce the burden on the wife of the deceased.
He said that the gesture was part of the foundation’s responsibilities of assisting the vulnerable, especially orphans and widows, in the society, as well as to give the bereaved a sense of belonging.
Mr Ntsentse Dandoura, Deputy Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, said the book had contributed to the body of knowledge on the history of the area, while calling on other historians, especially from the state, to emulate the author by writing their history for the upcoming generation.
He said that although the author was late, his ideas lived on and people would continue to read him.
On his part, Mr Labaran Maku, former Minister of Information, lauded the deceased for writing about the history of Eggon people in North Central Nigeria and challenged other scholars to improve on the shortcomings of the book.
Maku called on Nigerians to be united and peaceful, in order to elect persons with the capacity to address their challenges.
Mrs Grace Obadiah, the widow of the deceased, expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the success of the book launch and prayed that God would meet them all at their moment of need.
The book was reviewed by Dr Boumo Ezonbi, and its launch was well attended by family members, friends, associates and colleagues of the deceased.