104 indigent female students from Community Secondary School (CSC) Oboll-Eke in the Udenu Council area have been awarded scholarships by the Women Information Network (WINET) in collaboration with their Spanish partner, Mundo Cooperante. This initiative, part of the "Scholarship for Girls Education in Enugu State, Nigeria" under The Right to be a Girl Project, aims to support and sustain the education of underprivileged girls in the region.
The scholarship award ceremony, held at the school's premises, was a moment of joy and celebration. The Executive Director of WINET, Mrs. Miriam Menkiti, highlighted that CSC Obollo-Eke is the fifth school to benefit from the WINET/Mundo scholarships during the 2023-2024 academic session. The breakdown of beneficiaries includes 106 female students from Comprehensive Secondary School Akpasha, 22 from Community Secondary School Iva-Valley, 69 from Community Secondary School Ejuona-Obukpa, and 37 from Community Secondary School Obeleagu-Umana.
Mrs. Menkiti stated, "Today, 104 students from Community Secondary School Obollo-Eke are enjoying scholarships for the third term, receiving school bags, notebooks, mathematical sets, and pens. This brings the total number of beneficiaries to 338 indigent students for the 2023-2024 academic year."
Represented by Mrs. Chinelo Dim, WINET's Monitoring and Evaluation officer, Mrs. Menkiti explained the scholarship's objective: "The aim is to sustain the education of the girl child, preventing parents from considering early marriage due to financial constraints. Parents of all beneficiaries have signed commitment letters ensuring they will not withdraw their daughters from school during this scholarship period."
Emphasizing the organization's commitment, she added, "As a member of the international coalition 'Girls Not Brides - the Global Partnership to End Child Marriage,' we are dedicated to keeping girls in school and out of early marriages. The Enugu State Child Rights Law (2016) prohibits child marriage for girls under 18 years old."
The scholarship covers third-term school fees and provides essential school materials. Mrs. Menkiti assured, "The principal can confirm that we have paid the third-term fees for all 104 girls. We appeal to the students to make the best use of this opportunity and excel in their studies."
Acknowledging the support from various stakeholders, Mrs. Menkiti expressed gratitude to the Hon Commissioner for Education, Professor Ndubueze Mba, and the Chairman of the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB), Reverend Father Dr. Hilary Mgbodile, for their permissions and support. She also thanked the school's principal, vice principal, teachers, the School Based Management Committee (SBMC), community representatives, and parents for their cooperation.
The principal of CSC Obollo-Eke, Mrs. Edith Chika Ugwu Agbo, through the vice principal, Mr. Celestine Odoh, expressed deep appreciation to WINET and Mundo Cooperante. She highlighted the impact of remembering schools in rural communities and urged the organizations to extend similar support to other students at risk of dropping out.
On behalf of her fellow beneficiaries, SS2 student Miss Mmesoma Onah thanked the organizations for their generosity, assuring them of their commitment to academic excellence and making their benefactors proud.
This scholarship program not only provides financial assistance but also symbolizes hope and a brighter future for the girls, empowering them to pursue their education and dreams without the looming threat of early marriage.
