Kunle Adelabu
Professor Kunle Ade Wahab Educational Foundation (KAWEF) on Monday, December 27, 2021, officially commenced its scholarship awards for indigent students in Ikorodu Division.
Seven successful candidates were presented with cheques as maiden scholars of the foundation.
The lucky beneficiaries were Akinsanya Rofiat Adenike, 400 Level, Medicine and Surgery, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Badejo Jeremiah Ifeoluwa, 300 Level, Architecture, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile – lfe, Osun State, Madoti Lateef Ayobami, 300 Level Law, Lagos State University, Ojo and Ogunjimi Olamide Kabir, 300 Level, Lagos State University, Ojo.
Others were Olusanya Olabode Abdulwariz, 300 Level, Accounting, Lagos State University, Ojo, Oyebanjo Agboola Mustapha, 300 level, Accounting, Lagos State University and Omolaja Hikmat, 400 Level, Accounting, Lagos State University, Ojo.
According to the Foundation Secretary, Arch. Olufemi Adebayo Wahab, the beneficiaries of the inaugural scholarship have a minimum of 4.1 CGPA to qualify for the awards.
At the presentation that took place at the Oteju hall of the Ikorodu Town hall, Ikorodu, the founder of the foundation, Emeritus Professor Kunle Wahab, described the presentation as a dream come true, adding that the dream is to support and help build capacity of brilliant indigent students.
He distinguished the scholarship from other educational support that he has been rendering in the past.
“This is the official commencement of scholarship awards to successful applicants for Prof. Kunle Ade Wahab educational Foundation (KAWEF)”, Prof. Wahab said.
“It is qualified as ‘official’ to distinguish it from previous awards of other financial assistance given by me to struggling students in the past.
“Today, it is “my dream come true”. The Foundation was established in 2011 with the vision to support and help build the capacity of bright but indigent students of tertiary institutions to fulfill their educational dreams”.
Prof. Wahab, who said that the vision was as a product of his pains and struggles while finding a course for himself and the educational sector, also added that, “Beneficiaries are expected to help themselves and influence their communities for better living standards now and in the future”.
He also listed courses that the foundation is focusing on for the scholarship.
“Currently, the acceptable courses of study include Architecture, Building, Estate Management, Quantity Surveying, Urban and Regional Planning, Civil Engineering, Medicine, Insurance, Business, Accounting and Law”, he announced.
The distinguished scholar also stated that the foundation will engage in research and construction development aimed at increasing productivity; develop, promote and support efforts and initiatives for the preservation of Nigeria’s educational values; provide entrepreneurial reorientation and training as well as skilled development and raise funds and sponsor indigent students.
The Chairman of the occasion, Aremo Segun Ogunlewe who said that it was a privilege for him to chair the occasion, described it as a unique one.
“I am highly privileged to chair this unique event. The man behind the award has been an educationist all his life who has contributed to the development of education in Nigeria and Ikorodu in particular”, he said.
“He is somebody who has played many parts in the Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG) as the Chairman of the Ikorodu Division Human Resources Development Board(IDGRDG).
“His decision to delve into scholarship to assist indigent students should not be a surprise to anyone”.
The former Head of Service, while emphasizing the importance of education to humanity, said that it provides solutions to all human problems.
“Education is the bedrock of human progress. Solutions to all human problems usually come through knowledge which comes into being through education”, he said.
“The philosophy behind the free education of Chief Obafemi Awolowo was to tap into skill and talents deposited into every individual.
“Thus, it is when education is free and affordable that we can tap into skills and talents that are deposited into individuals and since government alone cannot do it all, that is why individual and group intervention like this must be appreciated because education is not cheap.
“I congratulate Prof Wahab and his wife for deeming it fit to give education which they have benefitted from to others”, Aremo Ogunlewe said.
Chairman, Registered Trustees of Prof. Kunle Ade Wahab Education Foundation, Prince Jamiu Adio Saka, said that the process that eventually culminated into the presentation of scholarship to inaugural beneficiaries was a long journey.
“It surely had been a long journey of efforts at solidifying the process leading to the shortlisting of awardees for such awardees for such awards that has as condition precedents indigeneship and performance above average at designated tertiary institutions within the Federation.
“Today, we are proud to present to members and friends of the Prof. Kunle Ade Wahab Educational, seven out of several applicants who crossed the hurdles to succeed as the first ever awardees of the Foundation”.
While congratulating the awardees, Prince Saka also appealed to members of the public for support.
“I congratulate the students and their parents for having been chosen as our Scholars in the recognition of their excellent performance at their various institutions. May God continue to crown their efforts.
“To our friends, we appeal for your kind support by joining the membership of our Foundation, part of whose aims and objectives include granting scholastic support to qualified students.
“Our Foundation is open to like – minded individuals and corporate organizations with focus on youths and educational developments in this challenging but developing Nation of ours”, Prince Saka said.
Speaking on behalf of other recipients, Ogunjimi Olamide Kabir thanked the foundation and its founder for the support for their educational development.
“I appreciate the kind gesture to support our educational development.
“We will make sure that we maintain our academic excellence that qualified us for these awards”, he assured the foundation.
Some of the other dignitaries at the presentation of scholarship awards were Sir (Engr.) Chief Olukayode Shoderu, Arch. Femi Williams, Prof Jide Matanmi, Engr. H.O.B. Lawal, Dr Olukoya, Dr Taiwo Hassan and Comrade Lekan Biliamin Oba, Chairman, Lagos State Youth Council.
