adminplusYesterday, the Education Support Programme of my foundation, the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation (HSDF) gave out grants to six hundred undergraduates of Bayelsa West Senatorial District made up of Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas.
I thanked the organising committee led by Professor Barclays Ayakoromor and his dedicated team who went through over 2000 applications submitted online to carefully select the beneficiaries. However, as expected, not all applicants made it, therefore I call for understanding from students who applied and could not make it.
Meanwhile, I was encouraged by the huge show of interest and participation on the programme. My appreciation also goes out to the chairman of the occasion, High Chief Seiyefa Koroye, a retired university Don and his wife Dr. Mrs. Grace Koroye, a retired educationist also.
I thank the Regent of Tarakiri clan, High Chief Fidelis Agbeki and all the paramount rulers of communities in Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas including political leaders and top government functionaries who joined me and my wife at the programme. I was impressed with the peptalk by Professor Christine Odi, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Niger Delta University (NDU) and my cousin Mrs. Funkazi Koroye Crooks and the remarks by the chairman of the occasion as well as the royal father of the day, all of which is urged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously.
I also emphasized my life long commitment to creating educational opportunities and I am glad to see the steady impact of the institutions created, policies initiated and implemented while I served as the Governor of Bayelsa State and the positive impact they are making.
Last year, the Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation gave financial support to all Bayelsa students of the 2022/ 2023 session of the Nigeria Law school. Meanwhile, this support programme is targeted at undergraduates, a grant of ₦30,000 to 600 undergraduates which amounts to ₦18,000,000 will help them go back to school. It is not intended as a scholarship, rather the Foundation observed that the flood that ravaged the state last year destroyed the incomes and livelihood of many, thus, found the need to support the students to return to school as families try to get back on their feet.
I also announced that there will be a robust educational support programme part of which will be:
1. The Henry Seriake Dickson scholarship programme which covers the cost of tuition.
2. A merit based grant for students on First class standing.
3. An undergraduate educational grant such as this, lastly, a grant for postgraduate students will be unveiled later this year.
I urge all those who are interested to apply for the programme as we join hands to build a secure future.
I joined every other speaker to charge the beneficiaries to pay attention to their studies and develop well-rounded characters to justify the investment their parents, guardians and the foundation has made, admonishing them to abstain from drug abuse, cultism and other social vices that will destroy their lives.
HSD
