Friday, 12th July 2024 marked a special day, as Chigozie Godstime, effectively completed his secondary education with a grand graduation ceremony held at the Good Shepherd Catholic Boys Secondary School, Oyede, Isoko North, Delta State.
Excited by the development, the Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has further approved a full university scholarship award for him through his personal charity organisation, Sheriff Oborevwori Foundation.
It is recalled that Chigozie Godstime, a native of Ebonyi State, who was a victim of child abuse while living with his uncle in Osubi, was rescued by Sheriff Oborevwori in 2018 and taken up to be cared for.
This saw the Governor maintaining him to ensure his psychological recovery and subsequently sending him to the full-boarding Good Shepherd Catholic Boys’ Secondary School, Oyede, where he steadily distinguished himself academically.
While completing his Senior Secondary School, Chigozie sat for the 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination and came out with good results which will now enable him to begin his tertiary education, marking another milestone in his life journey.
Talking with journalists at the graduation ceremony on Friday, Chigozie was full of gratitude to Gov Oborevwori and his family as well as the Sheriff Oborevwori Foundation for their love and care.
“I am elated to arrive at this point in my education. I cannot thank Daddy enough for his love and care. May God bless him and continue to lift him higher and higher.
“I also thank the management of the Foundation, led by Chief Mrs Esther Onokpasa for their commitment towards my well-being and development. I cannot forget how Uncle Freeborn Eghagha (Secretary of the Foundation Scholarship Committee) takes me to school, comes often to check on me and takes me home during holidays. I am really very grateful.”
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Asked about his future plans, he said he wants to read Law.
“My intention is to read Law at the university. Specifically, I want to specialize in Civil Rights Law to enable me to defend those who are suffering various forms of oppression and abuse.”
In his testimony about Chigozie, the school’s Geography teacher, Mr Emmanuel Chukwuma, said he was a very responsible and obedient boy who took his studies very seriously.
“Chigozie is a very intelligent boy and he takes his studies very seriously. He was in Arts class and he is very good at everything he does, from academics to sports. He is very responsible, obedient and a team player.
“That is not to say he doesn’t sometimes fall short of expectations due to youthful exuberance. But overall, he is a very good boy and we thank the Governor for helping us to train one of our students.”
The school’s Director of Sports also corroborated the testimony about Chigozie.
“He was a formidable member of the school’s football and basketball teams and played in the Delta State Principal’s Cup competition. Besides being very good in academics, I want to encourage him to maintain active involvement in sports as he progresses, because he has the potential of a successful and rewarding career in sports.”
For the Sheriff Oborevwori Foundation, the graduation of Chigozie is part of a dream come true in their determination to ensure that he enjoys good care and unfettered access to education to any level.
The ceremony was attended by various members of the Sheriff Oborevwori Foundation led by Freeborn Eghagha, others are, Godwin Dumuje, Tiroro Dumuje, Lawrence Egogo, Fred Edoreh and Dennis Otu, both Senior Special Assistants to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Media.