3 Nigerians Win UWC Scholarship

[Richard Akindele]

Three Nigerian youth, two girls and a boy, have emerged this year's beneficiaries of the United World Colleges (UWC) overseas scholarship award which covers a two year diploma course preparatory to university education in any part of the globe.

The three award recipients who were handed their traveling and other documents yesterday in Lagos, include Miss Nneka Chukwuma, a seventeen -year old SSS 3 student of Queen's College, Miss Nkechi Ezeh and 16 years Master Omiwole Ifedapo both from Redeemer's International Secondary School, Maryland, Lagos.

Speaking at the award-presentation ceremony, Mr. John Todd, Head, Greenspring School, Lagos, commended the recipients for coming tops at the keenly contested screening exercise, reminding them however, that greater challenge lies ahead.

He said the philosophy behind the UWC programme was to build bridges of friendship among the youths of the world, by inculcating in them the spirit of shared values, integrity, commitment and service to immediate, remote and international community . This, he said, is done by offering qualitative education in all UWC across the globe, preparatory to direct admission into universities of their choice in the world.

He explained that the UWC programme was designed to raise people of high and world class standards, integrity and excellence, who would be able to hold forth for their various countries.

He, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to live up to expectation by proving their mettle and being good ambassadors of the country especially in the face of negative reports and perceptions held against Nigeria by the western world.

In an interview with pressmen at the award presentation, chairman of the selection committee, Mr. Mike Gandonu said the criteria used in the selection/screening exercise were merit, sound academic prowess, good behaviour and willingness to propagate and project the country's image while the programme lasts, as well as in their future endeavour.

He disclosed that about 400 Nigerians have so far, benefited from the scholarship programme since inception more than 20 years ago, and are found all over the world performing excellently well and contributing to the socio-economic and political development and growth of various countries around the world.

He, therefore, called on well-meaning/wealthy Nigerians to support the programme in order to give hope to Nigerian youths by empowering them through good, qualitative and world class education and training.

Presentation of the award documents was made by Mr. Hakeem Bello-Osagie, chairman of the UWC international movement in Nigeria and immediate past chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), is an alumnus of the UWC International and now an avid promoter/sponsor of the programme.

The elated recipients who will be heading to UWC Atlantic, Wales, in the UK and UWC and Costa Rica respectively, expressed appreciation for this opportunity/privilege and promised to be good ambassadors of the country while the programme lasts.

Source: This Day.