No fewer than 30 secondary school students under the mentorship of Matta Girls Foundation have received scholarships to continue their education pursuit for the year 2023/2024 academic session.
The scholarship program is part of the humanitarian projects of Matta Girls Foundation– a brain-child of Hajia Maimunah Oloriegbe who is the wife of the immediate past Kwara Central Senator, Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe — to provide succor for the needy.
In a brief ceremony which took place yesterday, Saturday 30th September 2023, at the foundation’s head office in Ilorin, the students who have gained promotion to different classes in their various schools, received a full-paid tuition scholarship as well as instructional materials such as School Uniform, textbooks, writing materials, socks, sandals amongst others, to ease their academic journey for the year. Some of the students who have also shown interest in learning vocations were also provided with basic equipment to enhance their knowledge in the chosen trade.
Hajia Oloriegbe in her remarks stated that the existence of the foundation is beyond the political tenure of her husband who is now a non-serving senator, and, that gives the impetus to keep going with her humanitarian projects as part of the community’s social responsibilities to the needy through her NGO.
She expressed satisfaction with the academic and personal growth of the students whom the foundation adopted and has been taking care of since four years ago after their outstanding performances at a cultural exhibition program organised by the foundation in the year 2019.
Yunus Barakah, an SS 2 student of Ansarul-Islam Secondary School, Ilorin and Mrs Isiaq Ashabi who spoke on behalf of the students and their parents paid a glowing tribute to Hajia Oloriegbe for her continuous philanthropic gesture to the students and other needy, praying to Allah (SWT) to continue to strengthen her in service to humanity.
In a similar development, about 600 widows and aged women selected across households and communities in Ilorin South LGA were also supported by the foundation with financial donations to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal.
The humanitarian intervention which reached it climax on Sunday, Oct 1st 2023, was undertaken over the last four months by Hajia Oloriegbe through the Lamp Bearers — a youth-based political forum in Okaka Ward 1&2 of Ilorin South LGA.
The Chairman of Lamp Bearers Forum, Wasiu Aweri, in his remarks at the presentation of cash to another set of beneficiaries today in Aweri Compound, Ilorin, lauded Hajia Oloriegbe for her unswerving commitment to better the lives of the downtrodden through various humanitarian efforts.
He expressed that the group was able to execute several projects such as Summer Schools sponsorship, scholarship support for the students, and vocation tools empowerment to the artisans and others, all through Madam Oloriegbe’s support. He prayed to Allah to continue enlarging her coast.
Hajia Salamat Abdulrahman on behalf of the beneficiaries appreciated Oloriegbe for her kind support to them whilst praying to Allah to protect her and her family.
The program had in attendance several dignitaries, and community leaders including the Alangua of Okaka, Alhaji Yusuf Baba Alata, the Imam Eleree, Alh Yusuf Elere and others.
