December 9th, 2016: FAF official Inauguration/Awards of scholarships to students and pupils, financial grant to students in tertiary institutions and widows numbering 42 of them from Sapele LGA.
The Felix Anirah Foundation (FAF), during its official inauguration at the Sapele Athletic Club on December 9th, 2016 gave financial aids to widows and scholarships to students and pupils numbering 42 from Sapele local government area of Delta state.
The breakdown of the beneficiaries for scholarship awards are as followed: 20 Pupils from Primary School, which were given N10, 000 each per term, 10 Students from secondary school, who got N15,000 each per term to cover their books, and were all given their first cheques, two undergraduate students were given grants of a N100,000 each.
Also 10 women, among whom are widows, were also give grants ranging between N30,000 to N50,000 to support their business and start up SMEs.
Highlights of the event was the presentation of bags, books and cheques to awardees, and one of the widows Mrs Aghanti Comfort, who spoke on behalf of the widows treated the crowd to beautiful dance steps while singing and thanking the foundation President for the gesture.
The Chairman of the event, Chief Charles Obule in his remark, described the President of the foundation, Chief Felix Anirah as a seasoned politician and a reputable personality who has decided to spend the rest of his life in humanitarian service.
Obule noted that Chief Anirah from onset had always believed in giving to the less privilege, and therefore was not surprised when Chief Anirah told him some years ago that he was going into humanitarian service, pointing out that the dream some years ago has come to reality with Anirah putting smiles in the faces of the less privilege.
Chief Obule , who is one of the foundation trustee, expressed delight with the path Chief Anirah has decided to tread. “If you know him like I do, you will know the best thing he knows how to do is humanitarian service” Obule went on to urge Anirah to keep up the good work.
Earlier in his speech, Chief Felix Anirah said the foundation has been existing for the past ten years, that apart from the widows and the indigent students that have been empowered and given scholarship, that there are other disable and physically challenge persons that the foundation still caring for.
Speaking further, Anirah explained that the former South African President, late Nelson Mandela had once said: “What counts in life are not the mere facts that we have lived, but it is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.
“The Felix Anirah Foundation is our little way of helping people who are in real need and we are doing this from the little we have.
“We know how it feels to have a child who wants education but there is no money.” He then advised the awardees to make use of the opportunity.
Advising the beneficiaries to make judicious use of their benefits, Engr. Peter Aruoture, Prof. Bernard Owumi, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukare, all of whom were guest speakers at the event, urged the students to seize the opportunity to enhance themselves academically, with a charge on the women to position themselves economically.
Others who spoke at the event include Rotarian Akabom Enebong (District Governor Rotary International Club, District 9140 who shared the same passion with the foundation.
Lectures that were given are: Engineer Peter Aruoture MNSE (Director of works, local Government (rtd) who spoke on, “The Power of the Mind,” Professor Bernard Owumi ,of the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, who lectured on ‘Vulnerable Education and Societal development: A fictional paradigm and Professor Tonukari Nyerhovwo, who was ably represented by his wife, who spoke on the title , ‘Education is the Great Equalizer’.
Dignitaries present were the Chief Inspector of Education in Sapele local Government Area, Mrs Ajumah, Mr and Mrs Cyril Abeye Ogodo, members of the Sapele athletic Club, Rotary Club, parents, Teachers and invited students from schools across the state.