The Richard Akinnola Foundation yesterday extended its support to children of some deceased journalists in form of scholarship.
Among them is the six year old Miss Aladelokun Jemimah, daughter of the late Assistant Editor of The Nation Newspapers, Mr. Dada Aladelokun and five other children of deceased .
Dada Aladelokun died on September 25, 2015 at a Lagos hospital after a protracted illness.
Chairman of the Foundation, Mr. Richard Akinnola while presenting the scholarship of N100,000 each to the beneficiaries on Thursday at the Ladi Lawal Press Centre in Alausa, said the gesture was geared towards ameliorating the sufferings of the widows of the deceased journalists.
He explained that beyond the momentary emotional outpouring after the demise of journalists, the widows and children are soon left to face the arduous situations of life.
Akinnola said the foundation established in the last four years has reached out to meet the needs of widows by empowering them, adding that it decided to use this year’s edition to go a notch higher by giving out annual scholarships to the children.
He said the scholarship is restricted to one child per family due to paucity of funds, adding that other consideration would be given in the future as the foundation’s funds improve.
Other beneficiaries of the scholarship include 19 years old Cynthia Okonkwo, Ogundeji Adeyemi Ezekiel, Amadi Samuel Onyedikachi, Samuel Olumide Paul, Sanni Omolara.
Omolara, a student of Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the foundation for the gesture while assuring that they would make adequate use of the opportunity to become better citizens and care for their younger siblings.
She said that their family has not been having it easy since the demise of their father.
“I have been having challenges with paying my school fees and for me to continue studying I have to do little savings so as to meet up with the fee payment. This gesture would go a long way to assist me and take away the pain my mother has been going through when it comes to how I will continue my studies,” Omolara said.
Also Mrs. Folusho Samuel, widow of late Encomium Weekly Deputy Editor, Folusho Samuel who passed away on October 28, 2015, also relieved her experience since the demise of her husband.
She said she has been worried about coping with her rent that will soon expire and also thinking of meeting the children fees when school resumes next term.
She thanked the foundation saying the gesture is a big relief for her and her family.
Until his demise,Mr Ogbonnaya Amadi was the Entertainment Editor of Vanguard Newspaper.
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