By Lola Omowaye & Bukola Olamona
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The Women’s Dignity Initiative Inc. (WDII) has given scholarships to six indigent female students from rural communities in Ondo State.

The WDII is a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, founded by Dr. (Mrs). Folasade Olajuyigbe, of the Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). WDII provides scholarships to financially challenged but gifted and promising girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STEM) in remote villages in Nigeria, empowering them through mentorship, training and participation in scientific conferences.

The scholarship, made up of tuition fee, science Textbooks, Mathematical sets and school bags, were presented in an award ceremony and the official presentation of WDII at the Theodore Idibiye Francis Auditorium, Federal University of Technology, Akure.

She said eighteen schools were contacted to nominate their two best girls in Mathematics and six candidates emerged winners of the scholarship examination held on the 4th of August, 2018 adding that the aim is to build girls who are conscious of their potentials, who have self-esteem and are self-confident.

Olajuyigbe called on well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to partner with the initiative in order to enable girls achieve their full potentials and become successful in career and family women, who contribute to household and national income.

Delivering a lecture at the occasion, Acting Dean, Faculty of Nursing Science, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Dr. Mrs. Abimbola Oluwatosin said ‘success will be achieved by anyone who will not allow challenges to hinder them from attaining their goals in life.

Speaking on the topic:’’Success: Breaking Through Barriers, ‘’she outlined the principles of success to include: goal definition, strategizing, evaluation of problems, identifying difficulties, accepting blame, reorganising and acknowledging God as the maker.

In her remarks, Chairperson of the occasion and Director,FUTA Centre for Gender Issues in Science and Technology [CEGIST], Prof. Mrs. T. T. Adebolu commended Dr. Olajuyigbe on her initiative.

She pointed out that in most communities educating the girl-child is still a mirage because parents are biased, and the stereotype that a woman’s place is in the kitchen is prevalent.

She said times have changed and women have attained the pinnacle of different careers and the girl -child must be encouraged to achieve her full potential.

In her goodwill message, the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Her Excellency, Arabirin Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu, represented by the Senior Special Adviser on Women Affairs, Mrs. Titilayo Adeyemi lauded the initiative, pledging her support for WDII.

According to her no matter how little, all and sundry should contribute their quota to the education of the girl -child.

Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Fuwape, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Tunde Arayela commended the founder of the initiative for taking a bold step to encourage girls in STEM. He said the University management will support the initiative of achieving the education of the girl child.

Awardees of the scholarship include Islamia Asejejejaye, (Asantan Community Grammar School), Asantan Oja; Aishat Biokoto, (Sokoto Ogundele Community Grammar School), Sokoto Ogundele) Promise Ilemobayo, (Community Grammar School, Laje); Beauty Jacob, (Tekuile Community Grammar School,Tekuile) Mariam Jubril, (Fagbo Community Grammar School, Fagbo) and Selimot Olawuni,( Sokoto Ogundele Community Grammar School.)