DEWEF disburses N12m scholarship to students

THIRTY- FIVE indigent but brilliant undergraduates from various tertiary institutions in Lagos and Ogun states recently benefitted from this year’s Education and Welfare Endowment Fund ( DEWEF) of Rotary Club District 9110.

Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Yomi Adewunmi, who disclosed that the District had spent over N200 million since inception 12 years ago, said the criteria for selection remains that apart from being an indigent student, the beneficiary must be brilliant and in 200 level either in university or polytechnic.

“After passing through the stage of screening by the scholarship committee, beneficiaries must participate in aptitude test organised by the West African Examination Council ( WAEC) at the instance of Rotary International, and also obtain a letter of confirmation from his or her department.

“This year, 177 students sat for aptitude test, while 45 made 50 per cent and above, 35 were eventually selected.”

The District Governor, Remi Bello, said the scheme was to help indigent parents and empower future leaders.

Bello said N1.2m was disbursed to 120 students, comprising 85 old beneficiaries and 35 new ones. He said each beneficiary takes the sum of N100, 000.00 every year till the end of his or her course.

Chairman, DEWEF Scholarship, District 9110, Prof. Akinlade Akinola, said the scholarship would go a long way to alleviate the sufferings of beneficiaries.

“We are in a situation where some brilliant and good students find it very hard to pay school fees. As a Professor of Chemistry in a federal university where school fees is N25, 000.00, some students cannot even afford it. Some are orphans and some parents are just poor and cannot afford it.

“For this set of beneficiaries, N100, 000.00 is something. After deducting N25, 000.00, they would still have N75, 000.00 for books and other needs.” A beneficiary, Popoola Taofik expressed appreciation for the gift.