Communique Issued AT The End Of The National association of Nigerian students (NANS) zone C scholarship programme at the Omo Ibile Igbomina house, Ganmo, Kwara state, on the 13th of September, 2019.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS (NANS) ZONE C SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME AT THE OMO IBILE IGBOMINA HOUSE, GANMO, KWARA STATE, ON THE 13TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2019.

Preamble

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone C held the maiden edition of its Scholarship Programme at Omo Ibile Igbomina House, Ganmo, Kwara State on the 13th day of September, 2019. The theme of the event was "Imperative Need of Scholarship In The 21st Century". 

The Subtheme was " The Need For Functioning Guidance and Counselling Centres In Secondary Schools" among other relevant discussions which glamorously decorated the auspicious gathering.

The event was declared open by Comrade Adebayo Kayode Joshua, the Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone C who was also doubled as the Chief Host of the Programme and Comr. Ibitoye Ayojide, the Project Secretary of the Zone has the Host. 

The Special Guest and Lecturer, Dr. Mrs. M. L. Ogunniyi, FIMC, CMC, ACIA, delivered theme lecture with the Guest Speaker, Barrister Olaitan Azeez. 

The Keynote Speaker, Comrade Abdulkadir Usman, a former Students' Union Government President at the Kwara State College of Education (COED) Oro, also presented a paper.

The Programme featured some very crucial discussions on Scholarship Opportunities; the historical analysis, the imperative needs, sources of funding, scholarship formats and conditions, types and kinds, scholarship process, eligibility, sources of scholarships etcetera. 

Also featured was a profound discussion on the need for mentorship in schools, colleges and the society at large. The highpoints of the event include the scholarship awards for two categories of beneficiaries, which were (I) Graduate and (II) Undergraduates. 

These benefited 15 graduating students and 10 undergraduate students to school at the Adeshina College of Education, Share, Kwara State.

OBSERVATIONS

During Dr. Mrs. M. L. Ogunniyi's Lecture, it was observed that:

1. scholarship was established in 1643, at the Harvard which was founded in 1636. There are several forms of assistance to students in form of scholarships, grants, federal financial aid, private student loans and fellowships. Scholarship money come from many number of sources, through governments, corporations, universities, or any organization with some goodwill and stipulations in the wills of philanthropists, as an aid to help students pay for their expenses towards acquisition of a degree. Some are renewable annually, while some are one-time check.

2. Higher institutions in Nigeria and globally are set up to serve well both scholarship and national needs, hence preparing graduates for maximum contribution to the global exchange of knowledge through the movement of people, information and ideas. 

3. Scholarship seeks to develop youth leaders who are ready to put their learned skills to work in leading organizations, communities, and their local countries. It is to provide financial aid to outstanding youths. These are important resources for students to make ends meet as it eases up the financial burden and helps them to focus on their studies. 

4. Most of the scholarship awarding institutions/organizations demonstrates high level of commitment towards the educational development of the students through their annual awards to deserving students at all levels of tertiary education; though sometimes at secondary school level.

5. Scholarship is aimed to support meritorious students to enroll into higher institution of choice, for a prestigious programme so that they can serve the nation as skilled professionals. Sometimes they may need this money to travel abroad, for higher degrees and professional certification.

6. Scholarship seeks to develop youth leaders who are ready to put their learned skills to work in leading organizations, communities, and their local countries. It is to provide financial aid to outstanding youths. These are important resources for students to make ends meet as it eases up the financial burden and helps them to focus on their studies.

7. That types of Scholarship include; Academic scholarships, Average, Academic performance scholarships, Athletic Scholarship, Scholarship for Minorities, Scholarship for Women, Creative Scholarships, Unusual Scholarships, Community Service Scholarship.

8. That sources of funding of scholarship include; Federal Government Scholarships Individual philanthropists, Religious organizations, Multi-national companies, Nigerian companies, Local Foundation/Associations, International Foundation/Associations. 

During the Keynote Speech of Comrade Salami Wasiu, it was observed that: 

1. It is quite unfortunate that guidance and counselling centres have been in a state of dilapidation in most secondary schools. Nearly all secondary schools do not have a counseling centre; let alone professional trained counsellors who will man these centres. In fact, few schools that have these centres do not employ professional trained counsellors, they assign the duties of a counsellor to class teachers. Meanwhile, everybody can guide but not everybody can counsel.

2. Guidance and counselling started in Nigerian secondary schools with a view to giving a career guidance and counselling service to final year students pioneered by St. Theresa College Ibadan in 1959. The programme produced an effective result as all the final year students who later applied for various jobs were employed. Ever since then, the Federal Government has given attention to the need for Guidance and Counselling service to secondary schools via the National Policy on Education that Was revised in 1981.

3. Many a student has been performing woefully in his academics due to improper guidance and counselling. A student who just finished his Junior secondary school education and wants to proceed to the senior category has to be properly guided to choosing a department Science, Arts, or Commercial vis-a-vis his capacity or strength. Many students academic challenges emanated from making a wrong choice of department. A lot of students choose the department their friend(s) choose(s).

4. There are a lot of students who are having personal problems that can only be revealed to a professional for confidentiality. This issue of personnel problems has led many students astray since there is nobody to confide in to counsel them. These cases may be as varied as the total number of students in the school. When students fail to live up to expectations, they are likely to develop feelings of incompetence and insecurity that can easily disturb their mental equilibrium resulting in low achievement.

RESOLUTIONS.

1. For young adults to obtain the maximum benefits of higher learning, their financial status not withstanding as long as good and functional education is the right of every citizen, scholarships scheme are provided to help out in order to provide level platform for all citizens to have access to education.

2. As you lay out your educational path for future, the scholarships to target will begin to stand out. You need to define your scholarship search by identifying the type of degree or programme to suit your career goals; follow one's application instructions precisely and be aware of filing deadlines and special eligibility requirements. 

3. Scholarships aren’t awarded just to students with a 3.5 or 4.0 GPA. Each scholarship has its own criteria. Some scholarships are awarded based on need. For others, you must be a member of an organization, be studying a certain field or fit whatever guidelines the group awarding the money decides upon.

4. Regardless of whether a student excels in academics, he should be able to find several scholarships that work for him. There are even scholarships intended for students living in a particular state or town. A student can continue to apply for scholarships during his/her collegiate years all the way up to Ph.D. studies.

...Others include;

5. To nip the menace of poor academic performance which could be influenced by wrong choice of department in the bud, an aptitude test has to be conducted for students who want to proceed to senior secondary school by a professional trained counsellor in order to know where they should be placed. 

6. Proper guidance should be given to students to develop good study habits and gain

enough confidence to prepare and sit for exams. In some cases, the counsellor has to give specialised attentions to manage crises such as lack of concentration, poor performance, difficulty in comprehending certain subjects or just lack of interest in schooling on the part of the students.

7. Having functional counseling centres in our secondary schools could also help curb indiscipline among students.

BENEFICIARIES FOR THE GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS INCLUDE:

1. Yusuf Taiye Sheriffdeen

2. Balogun Emmanuel Aramide

3. Johnson Oluwadamilare Abigail

4. Abolarin Dare

5. Bankole Tunmife

6. Oyebola Olanrewaju

7. Bayode Oluwatobi

8. Ojo Oluwapelumi Mercy

9. Oloruntoba Emmanuel Idowu

10. Kolawale Oluwatoyin Ruth

11. Ogar Prosper

12. Ayantunde Victoria

13. Ibrahim Ọlálékan

14. Lawal Adeshina Ahmed.

It is worthy to note that this category of scholarship was sponsored by Dr. S. A.B.  Atolagbe

BENEFICIARIES FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS AT ADESHINA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, SHARE, INCLUDE:

1. Olawumi O. Abdulwaheed

2. Rotimi Damilola Jacob

3. Sulaimon Jemilat

4. Babatunde Idris Olamilekan

5. Salaudeen Adam Ajao

6. Yunus Nasirah

7. Pópóọlá Emmanuel

8. Pópóọlá Bólúwatifẹ́

However, this category was sponsored by the Proprietor of Adeshina College of Education, Share, Kwara State, Chief Dr. Yakub Adeshina

CONCLUSION

1. The NANS Zone C Secretariat has called on the Kwara State Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Abdulrasaq to put in some considerable measures to appoint a competent Special Adviser on Students' Affairs who would be willing to provide listening ears to the yearnings and affairs of the students. 

2. The Comrade Adebayo Kayode Joshua's Reawakening Team are on the pathways to rewriting the narratives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at large. 

3. The NANS Zone C would be training students on different vocational courses, including: Saloon, Tie and Dye, Tailoring and some Entrepreneurship skills. 

4. Comr. IBITOYE Ayojide (Project Secretary) enjoined the beneficiaries to utilise the scholarship awards efficiently and judiciously. 

APPRECIATION

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone C is immensely grateful to the following:

A Chartered Administrator, Deft and Astute Academician, Dr. Mrs. M. L. Ogunniyi; Barrister Olaitan Azeez, A Legal Practitioner; Abdulkadir Uthman Aliyu, former NANS JCC Chairman, Kwara Axis and Incumbent President of KWASU Alumni Association; Adebayo Saheed Olosasa, Incumbent NANS JCC Chairman, Kwara Axis; Adisa Azeez Jaji, National President, National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) National Headquarters; Comrade Abdulkadir Usman, Former Students' Union Government President, Kwara State College of Education, Oro; Comrade Adebayo Kayode Joshua, Public Relations Officer, NANS Zone C; Comrade Ibitoye Ayojide, Project Secretary, NANS Zone C; Aliu Ahmad Gold, Freelance Journalist.