Director-General, Kogi State Bureau of Information Services, Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, has offered scholarships to 35 orphans from various communities in Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Abdulmalik announced the gesture on Sunday in Ihima, at the Grand Finale of Ihima Students Union 2017 Spelling Bee, Quiz and Debate Competition.
He said that the scholarship would cover the primary and secondary education of the beneficiaries.
Abdulmalik also announced that he would pay next term’s school fees for all students that participated in the spelling, quiz and debate competitions which he sponsored as a pet project to boost educational growth.
The Director-General said that he had a special passion for education because it held the key to eradicating poverty and conquering oppression.
He decried incessant violence that had divided the communities along ethnic lines, with brothers killing one another over clannish differences.
“These senseless wars have claimed so many lives, leaving so many orphans,” he regretted.
Abdulmalik said that the selection of orphans for the scholarship was without regard for clannish, ethnic or religious considerations so as to foster unity, peace and oneness.
Speaking earlier, Mr Isah Amoto Bala, National President, Ihima Students Union, commended the official for his commitment to the promotion of education and restoration of its lost glory in Ihima.
Bala appealed to the Kogi government and privileged individuals to assist the union with a bus to ease transportation.
He also called for support toward the completion of the Ihima Community Library project, and advised beneficiaries of the scholarship offer to make maximum use of the opportunity to develop themselves.
Chairman, Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhaji Momo-Jimoh Adeiza, in a remark, commended Abdulmalik for the kindness and challenged other political appointees to emulate him.
