By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
“Education means the instruction of youth in certain rules of conduct by which they will be able to support themselves when they come to age and to know the obligations they are under to that society of which they constitute a part”, an English-born American educationist, Robert Coram has posited.
The likes of this reasoning, aptly explains the mission statement behind the vision of a man who values education and believes the future can be made better through education. He is Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, member representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial in the National Assembly and Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream).
Senator Akpan popularly called ‘OBA’ is one of the leading 2023 governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. A man whose penchant for doing good to all and sundry in order to lift their standards of living and guaranteed future has made him a household name in Akwa Ibom state and even beyond the state.
Recall in 2016, Senator Akpan launched an educational scheme tagged OBA Scholarship Scheme for students of his Senatorial District in federal and state institutions of learning across Nigeria. Following the increasing number of requests received from various students including physically challenged, who thronged his constituency office daily, he changed the scope to accommodate indigenes from the 31 local government areas of the state in 2019.
Some of the beneficiaries of the scheme, who were guests on Planet FM 101.1 special interview programme to mark the 6th anniversary of the scheme on Thursday, May 5, 2022 lauded the lawmaker for the landmark initiative, which has given them lifelines to realize their academic goals.
They described the OBA Scholarship Scheme as a turning point in their quest for academic dreams, given the present harsh economic realities in the country.
While fielding questions from the anchor, a beneficiary, who recently bagged a first-class honours from the Department of Agricultural Education, University of Uyo, Enobong Aniema Sandy, said the scheme was timely. Sandy said before fortune smiled on her to get the OBA’s scholarship, she had virtually lost hope of completing her studies, following the deteriorating health condition of the uncle, who provided for her education.
“I feel very happy and proud today. Looking back, the offer was quite timely and awesome. It came as a big relief. My sponsor got sick. I struggled to pay fees that semester, until a friend called and told me about the scholarship programme. I applied, wrote the exams, and passed. I got my fees paid from that semester till completion of my studies. I was also entitled to a stipend of ten thousand every semester. It is rare to have someone with such a good heart in our clime”, Sandy said. She described the process that led to her emergence as fair and transparent.
For Uwem Michael Mfon, a 300 level of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Uyo, the scheme provided an opportunity for him to be sure of realizing his dreams of becoming an Engineer in the future. He opined that the scheme aligns with the fourth item on the United Nations 2030 sustainable development goals, which centers on access to quality education.
The story wasn’t different for Ukpono Ini Otu and Ndifreke Okponete Isaiah, Medical students of the University of Uyo, who agreed that the scheme brought succour to their families, praying to God to reward the benefactor.
Saviour Joseph Jacob and Michael Frank, Medical Science students from the University of Calabar, recalled the risk they took to partake in the examination process, despite the distance and the state of the road which connects Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. They appealed to spirited individuals and public office holders to borrow a leaf from OBA’s gesture and create platforms for more indigent students from the state to access educational financing.
For Samuel Enobong Duff, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Uyo, the scheme gave his parents leverage to fund his final year project, as funds saved was used for that purpose. Emmanuel Usuyak Umoh, a 300 Level student of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, corroborated Samuel’s assertion, hinting that his laboratory-based practicals have been easily funded by his parents since he got the scholarship award.
A journalist, Mrs. Prescilla Christopher, while narrating her experience, said she almost deferred her studies at the university, but for the OBA’s Scholarship, which came to her aid in 2016.
“The scheme has been, one would say, a stitch in time that saved nine. I was at the verge of dropping studies. I almost deferred, when I heard about the scholarship scheme. I applied online, and after some months, I was called that I was shortlisted. I went to the liaison office, got the money and paid my fees. I was given stipends throughout my stay in school. He (OBA) pays the fees, the stipends and upkeep. Everything about my schooling was under his care, financially”, she said.
A management team member of the scheme, Dr. Promise Etim, reflected on the gains made in the past six years. According to him, the scheme has restored hope to students and refined what academic empowerment truly entails.
“The scholarship scheme is a social contract between the Senator and indigent students of the state initiated in 2016”, he said.
Etim said 481 students of Akwa Ibom origin in State and Federal institutions of learning have benefitted from the scheme. He said 21 have so far graduated with first-class honours, while more than 200 also bagged second-class upper honours. He said the scheme has so far gulped about N170 million, while a review process is embarked upon every three years to enable efficient appraisal of deliverables.
He explained that the review of the first phase of the scheme, which was done in December 2018, led to the initiation of the second phase in May 2019, urging potential beneficiaries to constantly refer to the benefactor’s website (www.senatoroba.org) for updates as regards the scheme.
As one the forefront gubernatorial aspirants in the state, it is strongly believe that if Senator Akpan could do all he did to his Constituents as a federal Lawmaker, Akwa Ibom as a state would be better for it with Senator Akpan as Governor if given a mandate at the poll to serve.
