Six children of deceased journalists were on Thursday offered scholarships by the Richard Akinnola Foundation to support their education.
Chairman of the Foundation, Mr. Richard Akinnola while presenting the scholarship of N100,000 each to the beneficiaries in Lagos said the gesture was meant to ameliorate the sufferings widows of the deceased journalists face having lost the family bread winners.
According to him, beyond the momentary emotional outpouring after the demise of journalists, the widows and children are soon left to face the arduous of life.
Akinnola said the foundation in the last four has met the needs of widows by empowering them, adding that it decided to use this year’s edition to go give annual scholarships to the children.
Beneficiaries of the scholarship include Miss Aladelokun Jemimah, 19 years old Cynthia Okonkwo, Ogundeji Adeyemi Ezekiel, Amadi Samuel Onyedikachi, Samuel Olumide Paul, Sanni Omolara.
Omolara, a student of Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the foundation for the gesture and assured that they would make adequate use of the opportunity to become better citizens and care for their younger siblings.
She told The Nation reporter that her family has not been having it easy since the demise of their father.
“I have been having challenges with paying my school fees and for me to continue studying I have to do little savings so as to meet up with the fee payment.
“ This gesture would go a long way to assist me and take away the pain my mother has been going through when it comes to how I will continue my studies,” Omolara said.
Mrs. Folunsho Samuel, widow of late Encomium Weekly Deputy Editor, Folusho Samuel who passed away on October 28, 2015, also relieved her experience since the demise of her husband.
She said she has been worried about coping with her rent that will soon expire and also thinking of meeting the children fees when school resumes next term.
She thanked the foundation saying the gesture is a big relief for her and her family.
