The Ibadan Descendants Union, IDU, in the United State of America, Dallas Forthworth Metroplex Chapter, has commenced implementation of full university scholarship to an indigent student of Ona- Ara Local Government Area of Oyo state.
The beneficiary, Fadilat AbdulJelili, has been enjoying the benevolence of the IDU since 2019 when she started her Senior Secondary School classes at the Sawia Community Grammar School, Olorunsogo Akanran Road, with a stipend of Sixty thousand Naira (N60,000) only annually.
The story of Fadilat and the intervention of the IDU is a clear example of how the well to do in the society can positively affect the lives of less privileged ones.
According to Alhaji Kola Bolomope, the President of Ona-Ara Development Forum, (ODF), Fadilat’s story began in 2018 when she participated in the school’s debate and quiz competition organized by the ODF for all Public secondary schools in Ona-Ara.
While a philanthropist and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the ODF, Chief Bode Amao, paid the WAEC of twenty of the thirty two participants in the senior secondary school category, the Ibadan Descendants Union Dallas Fortworth chapter, paid the WAEC fees of the remaining twelve students in addition to payment of five thousand Naira each to cover the school fees of all participants in the JSS 3 category. Fadilat Jelili was one of those participants in the JSS 3.
It is important to note that at that time, three thousand Naira was being paid as school fees in Oyo State Secondary Schools.
By the time Fadilat was to start SS 1, she could not afford the three thousand Naira school fees and would have dropped out of school at this point but the N5000 she received from IDU saved the situation.
When the attention of the IDU was drawn to her plight, the American based Union of Ibadan indigenes pledged to take over her education up to the university level.
Though payment of school fees has been abolished in Oyo State Secondary Schools, the IDU has for the duration of her Senior Secondary School education given Fadilat the sum of twenty thousand Naira (#20,000) per term which means she was given a sum of Sixty thousand Naira (#60,000) per annum as upkeep allowances.
Fortunately she passed her WAEC and NECO examinations in good grades and was offered admission into the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH).
At the general meeting of the Ona-Ara Development Forum yesterday, an elated President of the Forum, Alhaji Kola Bolomope announced the receipt of money from the IDU, to take care of Fadilat’s school fees, feeding, accommodation and books for the this academic session at LAUTECH.
Members expressed deep appreciation to IDU with prayers and called on other well to do in the society to see how they can be of help to the needy.
The award recipient Fadilat Jelili accompanied by her mother Mrs. Morufat Kehinde also appreciated IDU and the ODF and promised not to disappoint anyone.
