Orphan Bags Automatic Scholarship

Wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Mercy Odochi Orji, has awarded automatic scholarship up to university level to an orphan and a member of the Abia Children Parliament, Master Bernard Hope.

Mrs Orji said  her gesture was intended to save the boy’s bright future, adding that she saw pains written all over him.

Master Hope, from Orlu, Imo State, lost his parents and was being fostered by an uncle. He lived with them in Umuahia but his fate turned for the worst when his uncle lost his job and was forced to relocate to Lagos. His wife was reportedly cruel to Bernard and eventually drove him out of their home.

Luck smiled on Hope, who is currently a student of Mercy Seminary, Bende in Bende Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State when the Speaker of Abia Children Parliament, Hon. Nneka Anaga Eke, presented his pathetic case to the governor’s wife during the parliament’s sitting to mark the African Child Day at Umuahia North local government headquarters.

Rounding off her speech during the sitting, the Speaker said: “We need to bring to your notice, the pathetic case of Bernard Hope whose parents died with his brother. His uncle, who was taking care of him lost his job and left for Lagos. The wife began to maltreat him and eventually drove him out of their home. The boy is helpless and needs help.”

The emotional appeal roused the mother in the Governor’s wife/who promptly announced the award of automatic scholarship to Bernard. She said, she would  adopt the boy if his guardians were reluctant to take Bernard.

She said, she would adopt the boy if his guardians were reluctant to take Bernard back into their home

Emotions ran high, with many shedding tears, in the hall when an overwhelmed Bernard marched forward, knelt down, shook hands and thanked the governor’s wife profusely for her kindness.

Mrs Orji later told The Tide in an interview that her decision was based on her experience as a mother.

“As a mother, I know that that boy is suffering a lot because his father and mother are no more. When you look at him, you know that he is in pains. So, that is why as a mother, I took it upon myself to take care of him and I must surely train him to the university level.”

She assured that the government of Chief T. A. Orji would continue to give priority to education in the state.

Earlier in her speech, the Speaker had called on parents to respect the rights of the child and provide nutritious food for the children.

She also requested for office accommodation, a bus and identity cards for the children parliamentarians to enable them carryon with their sensitisation mission.

In its resolutions adopted during the sitting, the parliament enjoined governments to provide free and qualitative education for the Nigerian child and called for enforcement of the ban on children hawking during school hours.

They also advocated Press freedom and use of the media to propagate the rights of the child. A party for children by the wife of the governor rounded off activities for the day.