Ebonyi State, the Salt of the Nation will lose its taste if nothing is done to cheer education and the future of the nation will be at risk. A Premium Times special report indicates that over 10.2 million children are out of school in Nigeria.
24% of this statistic resides in Ebonyi. These children deserve a quality education, as education is a major solution to some of Nigeria’s worsening problems.
Sending children to school all the way through university can be prohibitively expensive, but prominent businessman and philanthropist Dr. Gideon Osi recognizes the importance of education and has made it his mission to help as many students as possible return to school.
On October 8, 2023, parents and their wards beamed with happiness as they received grants from Dr. Gideon Osi to go to school or complete their education.
The grants are available to students of all ages and backgrounds, and they are awarded based on financial need and academic potential. Awarded to 105 beneficiaries, the Dr. Gideon Osi 100 Million Scholarship Scheme is dedicated to improving education outcomes in Nigeria. The grants are just one way that the foundation is working to achieve its mission.
As a beneficiary of a scholarship, Dr. Osi understands the transformative power of education, and he is committed to helping other students achieve their academic goals by providing them with access to formal training across educational institutions in the country.
Speaking at the glamorous event, Dr Gideon Osi said
“I am a product of scholarship and I have been giving scholarships to students and undergraduates. I feel one of the ways to contribute best to society is educational empowerment.
Education to every community, every society, and every country is like what oxygen is to the human body. When you educate the people, you are helping to reduce poverty. You are helping reduce insecurity. This scholarship is our own way of giving to the society.”
He reiterated that the scholarship recipients have one job: to focus on their studies and excel. He said that their success will encourage him to help even more students.
Inspired by the joy and happiness at the event, Dr. Gideon Osi reaffirmed his commitment to giving back to society through education and empowerment.
He pledged to continue offering annual scholarships to help more students return to school.
Dr. Gideon Osi is a distinguished son of Ebonyi State. A medical doctor, serial entrepreneur, and renowned philanthropist, he is the founder of the Gideon and Joy Life and Leadership Foundation, an educational and leadership program that has trained over 300 young people.
Dr. Osi is also a social crusader for equity and justice. As the convener of Save the Peace Initiative of Nigeria (SPIN), a national peace-building and youth re-orientation organization, he is a respected mediator who has helped to resolve intertribal and interethnic conflicts across the nation.
2023 COMPREHENSIVE LIST FOR TERTIARY SCHOLARS OF GIDEON AND JOY FOUNDATION
