By Jude Okoh
Excitement filled the air in Oza-Nogogo community as deserving pupils, students, and teachers were rewarded with cash gifts for their outstanding academic performance and dedication to education. The gesture was sponsored by France-based philanthropist and member of the community, Mr. Dennis Nicholas Oduare, and facilitated by the Oza-Nogogo Elite Foundation.
The event, held at the residence of the Ogisi of Oza, saw the top four best-performing pupils from primary schools and students from secondary schools receiving cash awards in recognition of their hard work. Teachers and school heads were also not left out, as they were presented with cash tokens in appreciation of their efforts in shaping young minds.
Speaking during the presentation, the President of Oza-Nogogo Elite Foundation, Mr. Uche Ebu, urged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously, emphasizing that education remains the key to success in life. He praised Mr. Oduare for his consistent support towards community development and called on other well-meaning indigenes of Oza-Nogogo to contribute to the growth of the community.
“This initiative is not just about rewarding excellence, but also motivating our children to aim higher. We thank Mr. Dennis Oduare for his generosity and urge others to follow his footsteps in giving back to our community,” Mr. Ebu stated.
Some of the elated teachers who spoke with newsmen expressed gratitude to the donor and prayed for God’s blessings upon him to sustain the initiative. They, however, appealed to the government to provide basic amenities such as toilets and water supply in public schools across the community, noting that the lack of such facilities hampers effective learning.
One of the beneficiaries, a student of Oza-Nogogo Secondary Commercial School thanked the organizers and promised to work even harder in his studies. “This reward has encouraged me to study more so that I can achieve greater things in the future,” he said.
The event ended on a high note, with community leaders, parents, and well-wishers commending the initiative and expressing hope for more developmental projects in Oza-Nogogo.
