As part of its commitment to the development of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, the Alumni Association and the FUTA Students Union (FUTASU) have given scholarships – cash support to over thirty indigent students of various Schools and Departments within the University.
Delivering a keynote address at the occasion which held on June 26th 2023, the Alumni Scholarship Coordinator and chief mobilizing officer, Mr. Idede Oseyande, told the students to see the gesture of strangers contributing to their education as a sacrifice not an entitlement, therefore they should use the money for the purpose it is meant for while facing their academic work with commitment.
He told them never to see themselves as not having anything to offer considering that the scholarship they enjoy today was born by some persons who did not have finance to support their ideas but shared them with others who hand the financial might and network to pull it off.
While explaining how the annual donations have come to stay, Idede noted that integrity was important in dealing with people and making monetary commitments, hence the students must not politicize the process nor crumble it for trivial or unprintable reasons such as malice, entitlement, greed and recognition. In his words, he said “use people who can be trusted with the idea, don’t politicize working ideas because you want to kill or rubbish a person, don’t pull people down because you are not getting recognition, don’t feel entitled, work hard”.
Idede charged the students to make the best of their time in school and encouraged them to attend seminars, adding that no knowledge is lost. He also hinted that the national body of the Alumni Association was working to expand the scholarship scheme for better chances for more students in the future.
The Dean of Students Affairs who is also a member of the Alumni Association, Professor David Oke advised the students to see this period as a phase in their lives and not an end. He reminded them that the Students Affairs Division was available to help them pass through the phase successfully hence they should visit often and seek necessary help and guidance. He also told them to work hard and evolve so that they could also become contributors to the growth of others in the future.
The national President of the Alumni Association, Engineer Bello Adeyemi who was represented by the national Vice-President, Mrs. Olubukola Ola-Salawu told the benefiting students’ life was about give and take and that they were on the receiving end now but will tomorrow be on the giving end, God willing. She said the students should see the gesture as a sacrifice by people and urged them to remember to return the gesture to people who will be in similar situation when they are better placed in future. She thanked the donors for being selfless and prayed for God to replenish them.
The FUTASU President, Comrade Asoore Jesunifemi who was equally excited thanked the team who had tirelessly made his vision of assisting the indigent students come to life. He also prevailed on the recipients of the donations to harness opportunities available and make good use of the funds provided.
In addition to funds already presented, the immediate past national President of the Alumni Association, Mr. Olaitan Adesomoju offered the students cooking gas for the duration of their stay in FUTA as undergraduates.
Miss Eniola Falodun, a recipient who spoke on behalf of others thanked the donors, FUTASU and the Alumni Association for their kindness and for making them their priority. She prayed that someday in the future she and her colleagues would be able to give back in larger measure, reiterating that they all they needed to do was to build themselves and not be subject to circumstances currently around them. She said to them “don’t let your needs define you, look for opportunities and keep your head high”.
