Hope Waddell Old Boys award scholarship to overall best students

By Our Reporter

Hope Waddell Old Boys Association, HWOSA class of 1992 have awarded scholarships to two best overall students of the school in Junior and Senior Secondary categories for 2023/24 session.

The scholarship endowment fund according to the association, was their way of promoting excellence and hard work while encouraging students to become more disciplined and focused on their studies.

Speaking with Vanguard shortly after the presentation of cheques to the two beneficiaries, Fabian Okon for JSS and Opla Effiom for SSS at the Institution’s Chapel on Thursday, the coordinator of the Class of ’92, Dr Itojong Ayamba explained that it was high time young minds were reorientated from believing that the key to success was by connections, and not hard work.

Dr Ayamba said there was a need to rejig the culture of hard work among young people, especially now that the get-rich-quick syndrome was taking over the space.

“A lot of young people no longer believe that hard work pays, they think it is all about connection, they forget that connection might get you to where you want but hard work is what keeps you there, hence the need to study hard and becoming exceptionally good at what you do.

“What you study or read will always be with you, you can only transfer it by teaching others, nobody can take what you have learnt away from you.

“We want to use the scholarship Endowment Fund to encourage these young ones to do better and become better versions of themselves so that they can be fit to contribute to the growth and development of the country.”

On his part, the deputy coordinator of the ’92 class, Mr Essessien Inyang who said that the association has been doing a lot for the development of the school, said they thought it wise to extend the gesture to the students themselves by initiating the scholarship scheme all in a bid to promote excellence.

According to him, before now, they had embarked on various projects; including the renovation of principal’s office and so on, but decided to reach out to the students this time.

The Principal of the Institution, Mr Okon Ita, said it was a thing of joy to see old students return home and make an impact on their alma mater, adding that it gives him hope that the future is bright.

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He lauded the association for its magnanimity while encouraging others, both at home and in the diaspora, to emulate the kind gesture by the Class of ’92.

“I am delighted by this goodwill, it’s a thing of joy to see your old students coming back to contribute their quota to the growth and development of the school, I’m very proud and happy.

“We have them all over the country and the rest of the world, their visit shows they are doing very well wherever they are because it is only a child that is doing well that can remember home,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries and overall best students of the Junior Secondary School category, 11-year-old Fabian Okon, said the scholarship is a boost for him and added that it will encourage him to study more.

“I won’t let my guard down, and I will study harder and better to achieve excellence in every session, I know that this scholarship is a huge relief for my parents this session, so I’m very happy about the gesture by the association,” he said.