The Ona Ara Development Forum, (ODF), a social/cultural association of indigenes of Ona Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State has embarked on an educational support program for students in the area.
At the maiden edition of the bursary award presentation to students in tertiary institutions which was held at the Council Hall, Akanran, the President of the Forum, Alhaji Kola Bolomope, paid glowing tributes to the founding fathers of the Forum, whose vision was to ensure that Ona Ara takes its rightful place in the comity of developed local government areas.
He said that it was in pursuit of this objective that the ODF set up a Scholarship Committee to raise funds to support brilliant but indigent students of Ona Ara in pursuit of their academic career.
According to Alhaji Bolomope, the novel idea embarked upon by the forum is for prominent families in Ona Ara to endow between one million to three million naira in the name of their families. He added that interests generated on the amount will be used as Scholarships/Busaries annually.
The ODF President appreciated those who have contributed to the fund and urged those who are yet to key into the programme to do so.
In his address, the Chairman of the Scholarships Committee, Prof. Olukunle Iyanda, disclosed that seven prominent families have donated a minimum of one million naira into the Scholarships Fund.
These are the Pa S.A Iyanda, Prof Moses Olubayo Adeniji, Engr Dotun Sanusi (Ilaji), Kate Katoose, Chief Mustafa Adebayo Oyero, Alhaji Bolanle Gafar Scholarship Foundation and Pa Yesufu Amao Bolomope families.
Prof Iyanda said that money realised has been invested in a Federal government bond adding that the interest realised is what is being used to fund the bursary awards.
The Chairman of the occasion, the Jagun Olubadan, Engr Dotun Sanusi commended the initiatives of the Ona Ara Development Forum, promising that he is always ready to support any development oriented programme.
Special guest of honour, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, former finance commissioner in Oyo State, urged beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunities being offered by the ODF.
Royal father of the day, His Royal Majesty, the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Abimbola Ajibola who also doubles as the Chairman of the Ona Ara traditional council, called on the numerous highly blessed families in Ona Ara to support the good initiative of the ODF.
The Executive chairman of Ona Ara Local Government Area, Hon. Misbau Sanusi (Shaba) who was happy with the cordial relationship between the local government and the ODF urged the people of Ona Ara to always support government programmes and policies.
Apart from the bursary awards, thirty-five thousand naira WASSCE fees of eleven students who excelled in competitive exams for public secondary schools in Ona Ara were also paid.
The capital base of the Scholarship program increased by three million naira with the duo Engr Dotun Sanusi and the Kate Katoose families investing additional one million naira each and Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi also putting in one million naira on behalf of his family.
