Not less than 16 deserving indigent students of the University of Lagos, have been awarded a N60 million sponsorship grant by the Prof. Mike Adebamowo Foundation (PMAF) in a bid to encourage academic excellence.
The awardees were selected across various disciplines in the institution.
Speaking at the inaugural sponsorship award ceremony on Thursday in Lagos, Founder of the foundation, Prof Adebamowo said the initiative was part of his lifelong commitment to serve humanity.
According to him, supporting indigent university students across Nigeria and ensuring that financial constraints does not hinder their academic aspirations is part of the vision of the foundation.
Prof Adebamowo, also the Executive Director of the foundation, noted that the foundation which was launched on May 8, 2024 during his 60th birthday celebration, would be empowering the students with N60 million.
“This ₦60 million endowment fund is with a clear vision to empower indigent students to complete their university education, starting with students of the university of Lagos.
“Our mission is to ensure no deserving student drops out of school, due to financial constraints and is open to all indigent university students in Nigeria.
“Dedicated to making positive impacts through financial support, the PMAF was birthed from the abundant grace of God, that has guided my life’s journey, particularly in the realm of education.
“This initiative is deeply personal to me. As a student at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Ile-Ife, from 1981 to 1988, I earned B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Architecture.
“In my first year, I achieved a perfect Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0, which earned me prestigious accolades, including the National Merit Award for Students, the Federal Government Scholarship Award, and the University of Ife Undergraduate Scholarship Award and many others,” he recounted.
He noted that these opportunities alleviated his financial burdens, allowing him to focus on his studies, while his late mother, then a primary school head mistress was immensely relieved.
The don noted that through the PMAF, he was giving back to society, in honor of his mother and for all other mothers struggling to educate their children.
He then urged on corporate organisations, individuals, friends and well-wishers to join hands with the PMAF, in the mission of building Nigeria’s human capital through kind donations and grants.
The founder said aside providing financial support to indigent students in Nigerian universities, PMAF would also continually monitor and evaluate the progress of beneficiaries.
He added that it would also connect beneficiaries to job-related ecosystems for career opportunities, as well as monitor and guide beneficiaries to perpetuate a cycle of support and societal impact.
According to him, it will also establish initiatives to provide additional forms of support to the less privileged, among other objectives.
He added that to ensure sustainability, the PMAF would systematically evaluate the impact of its support, keeping both the foundation and its beneficiaries on track to achieve their goals.
The don lauded the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola for her unwavering support and encouragement, as well as the Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. Musa Obalola for his invaluable counsel and guidance throughout the selection process.
In her remarks, the vice chancellor of the institution, Prof. Ogunsola lauded Prof. Adebamowo and the foundation for the gesture, describing it as show of love to humanity.
According to her, the founder, is being obedient to the law of Jesus Christ, who is His holy book, has admonished humanity to love one another, just as He loved His Church.
She added that what the foundation was doing, showed the heart of gratitude, by giving back.
“What Prof. Adebamowo has done is not because he has money more than everybody but because he has prioritised that.
“I want urge all of sitting here to emulate what he is doing because by doing that, we are surely going to rewrite the narrative of this our great country for good.
“We should all seek how we can contribute our little quota to mute development of our country. Often times, it is not all about money, bit could come in various forms.
“We must all also learn to count our blessings, because if we fail to do this, it will be drowned by our problems,” she stated.
She then congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to continue the circle of support to impact society.
“They should believe in themselves, stay focused and strive for excellence. They must be limited by the circumstances surrounding their academic journey, as their resilience will surely make a way for them someday,” she said.
“I want to challenge stakeholders to also find means of adopting a student each, because this way, the society will be better for it “ she said.
Speaking on the criteria for selection, Mr ObabiOlorunkosi Gafar, member of the foundation said only students with financial difficulties were eligible to apply.
He added that after due scrutiny, some of them were verified to be orphans, some without fathers, leaving them to work at their spare time to support not just their academics, but also their mothers.
Gafar added that the students whose academic performances were also put into consideration for the grant, came from various disciplines and levels.
He lauded the students for not allowing their circumstance to determine their future, which according to him, was more impressive.
The Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. Obalola, urged the students not to rest on their oars.
He charged them to see the grant as a form of trust and not free money.
Prof Obalola also lauded the vice chancellor for maintaining her resolve that no student of the institution would drop because of lack of funds.
The foundation’s Deputy Executive Director, Pastor Oyeyemi Adebamowo in her closing remarks, described the awardees as not just recipients, but torchbearers of this vision.
“These awards are not merely rewards for where you have been, but divine endorsements of where you are going.
“Carry this mantle with courage and let it ignite a fire of impact that will touch generations after you
“Behind every PMAF award is a message: We see you, we believe in you and you matter to us.
“Legacy is not what we leave behind, but who we lift up while we are here; this is the heart of the PMAF.”she stated.
According to her, greatness often hides behind need and the Prof. Mike Adebamowo Foundation exists to uncover it.
Speaking further, she added that the PMAF was born out of one man’s unshakable belief, noting that such brilliance must never be buried by lack, adding that, that talent, no matter how hidden by hardship, deserved a platform to thrive.
“This award is a manifestation of that belief. Today, we honor not only the beneficiaries, but also the resilience, excellence and silent perseverance they represent,” she stated.
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Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Adewale Ademilola, a 400 level medical student of the institution, commended the foundation for the support, while promising that the gesture would not be in vain.
According to him, the gesture is sending the right signal to the world, that every little help one makes to humanity has a positive reward waiting in the furure.
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