The Modakeke Progressive International, Osun State, has given 150 brilliant, but indigent pupils in the town free registration for the Senior School Certificate Examination.
The Modakeke Progressive International was established by indigenes of Modakeke living in the diaspora, for the indigent indigenes.
The beneficiaries drawn from 72 private and 78 public schools in the town were presented their registration forms at an event held in Modakeke on Thursday.
Speaking via Zoom at the event, the President, Modakeke Progressive International, United States of America chapter, Mr Ini Animashahun, disclosed that about 600 pupils registered through a portal created by the organisation.
He further explained that a sum of N2,617,000 was spent on the purchase of the WEAC forms for the beneficiaries selected from the private schools, while N2,817,750 was spent to purchase forms for the pupils drawn from the public schools, bringing the total to N5,434,750.
He said, “We threw the application open via the online portal. 596 applicants applied and we strictly examined the applicants by examining the consistency in their first, second, and third terms performances.
“So the lucky 150 beneficiaries have been strictly screened because we don’t want to invest in people who will not be focused on their academic work. The 150 candidates include 103 science, four commercial, and 43 art students.”
In his remarks, the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Olubiyi Toriola, enjoined the beneficiaries to remain focused and encouraged the sponsors of the program to do more in assisting the indigents but brilliant pupils in the town.
Toriola advised other privileged indigenes of the town to cultivate the habit of investing in education of the younger generation, stressing that engaging in such ventures would lay a solid foundation for all-round development of the community.