A non governmental philanthropy organisation, Prince Adekanmi Nureni Hammed Foundation (PANH) has awarded scholarships to selected students of secondary schools in Ile-Ife to cover for their 2023 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
PANH Foundation was founded with sole aim of empowering youths, widows and less privileged in the society, and this act was held on Wednesday 26th of October 2022 at ile Ife, Osun State.
The students were drawn from three public schools in Ife, namely: Ife Anglican Grammar School, Ansar-ud-deen Grammar School and St. Philip’s Grammar School, all in Ile-Ife.
Speaking at the ceremony held at Oba Okunade Sijuade memorial hall, Enuwa, the Ife-born philanthropist and Chairman of PANH Foundation, Prince Adekanmi Nureni Hammed said he believes the less privileged in the society must also be encouraged.
Hammed, who was represented by the director of project of PANH, Mr Adeoye Oladoji added that the 20 awardees were selected by the management of each school without any form of bias.
Olasoji said, “While growing up Prince Nureni had to do so many menial jobs in order to go to school, so he decided that he would establish a foundation where he would he assist people in the best way he can and this is not the first of his projects. He had supported several widows, youths, artisans and students.”
Speaking on selection process, Olasoji said, “we told school managements to give us brilliant students who have challenges of funding. This was because we wanted to ensure our targets are reached and as you can see, none of the students was chosen based on relationship with anybody. It’s strictly on merit.”
The guest speaker of the event, Akintola Najimdeen, in his lecture to the students, emphasized on having a good role model in order to inspire thier lives positively.
Najimdeen said, “when you have good role models in your life, they inspire you to act differently in order to make positive impact in your environment, you tend to be different from others because of the person you look up to”.
Najimdeen also advised students to be hardworking and prepare assiduously for their examinations in order to come out in flying colours.
“Now this is not a time to play or joke around, you have to focus on your studies, not many are opportuned like you, don’t take this privilege for granted, study hard and focus on your studies “.
Commending the good works of Prince Hammed, one of the teachers of the school, Mr Oladele revealed that his school has benefited immensely from the kind gesture of PANH Foundation. He said the foundation has donated school uniforms and other amenities needed for a conducive learning environment.
” I appreciate the Prince for his consistent work in the school. Prince Nureni is a noble man, there was a time he came to school to donate school uniforms, drums and other amenities so the students can have a conducive learning environment”.
In an interview with Insight media, one of the beneficiaries of the scholarship appreciated the Prince for his benevolence and explained how this would help him to be more focused and work very hard.
The student who couldn’t afford to sit for NECO and WAEC, her mother advised her to pick one, expressed her gratitude to the Prince of Ife for giving her the opportunity to sit for the two exams.
In rounding off the philanthropic work of Prince Adekanmi to the students, he has also promised to go further by acquiring jamb form for the students, and to sponsor them into any university of thier choice.
