From Rhoda Godwin, Yenagoa
In a bid to alleviate the financial burden of West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees on students, the SeedOfVictory Foundation has doubled its impact this year by supporting 30 students.
This initiative, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was inspired by the legacies of Late Mrs. S.E. Okolo & Late Hon. (Mrs.) E.T. Ibomo, funded by their children has now supported 75 students in 3 years, breaking financial barriers to education.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr. Taritein Boco, the Managing Director of Asfabeta Management Support Services and the project’s organizer, highlighted the foundation’s commitment to doubling its impact annually.
The long-term goal is to support 15,400 beneficiaries by the tenth year, aiding students facing financial challenges in covering WAEC fees and administrative costs.
According to Mr. Uzochukwu Okolo, the SeedOfVictory Foundation representative, the scholarship program specifically targets students with financial difficulties, helping them afford WAEC fees and related administrative expenses.
To ensure thorough preparation, Mr. Boco noted that the assessment exam questions were based on WAEC past papers.
He also mentioned that despite improved scores this year, overall performance remained below average, suggesting a need for extra classes to better prepare students for the WAEC exams.
The WAEC Support Project award ceremony at the Azaiki library featured inspiring remarks from distinguished educators, Dr. Tubo Okomuko and Chief (Dr.) Felicia Tariwari.
Dr. Tubo Okomuko , Senior Lecturer at Niger Delta University, emphasized the importance of balancing academic pursuits with practical skill development.
He encouraged the students to focus on their studies while also acquiring skills that would enhance their future prospects.
Chief (Dr.) Felicia Tawari, Managing Director of Ayalla Hotels, Councillor, and Educationist, offered sage advice on the dangers of fraudulent activities.
She cautioned the students against engaging in deceitful practices, such as “yahoo” or “yahoo plus,” which could have devastating consequences on their lives and futures.
Their words of wisdom resonated deeply with the students, who were honored to receive guidance from these esteemed educators.
In her goodwill message, Lady Eunice Nnachi, Executive Director of Women Organized for Mentorship and Advocacy Network (WOMAN), urged recipients of the WAEC Support Project awards to maximize their time on social media platforms.
Lady Nnachi encouraged the students to leverage platforms like YouTube to acquire valuable skills, rather than wasting time on non-productive activities.
She emphasized the importance of digital literacy and skill acquisition in today’s fast-paced world, and encouraged the students to take advantage of the numerous online resources available to them.
The award ceremony had several other Civil society organizations CSO leaders present, Joy Ogbogene of The Albinism Foundation and Mrs. Wodu, Executive Director, Girls Empowered for Change Foundation among others
