A 200-level law student of the University of Ibadan, Christianna Joel who emerged the best female secondary school student in the 2018 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the state has cried out over non-activation of scholarship awarded to her by State government for her excellent performance.
Christianna sat for Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) at Yejide Grammar School, Ibadan. The brilliant Christianna scored distinction in four subjects, including English Language, Economics, Christian Religious Studies and Yoruba. She also performed well in five other subjects she sat for in WASSCE 2018.
Following her exceptional performance which attracted late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi. The then governor promised her that the state government would sponsor her tertiary education. But four years later, Oyo State has not honour his agreement.
Christianna narrated her ordeal to FIJ that she had done everything possible to activate the full scholarship, but all her efforts had been in vain.
Christianna has made several contacts to government parastatals, including the governor’s office, the ministry of education, the ministry of youth and the ministry of women affairs, in Oyo State regarding the scholarship.
“On November 29, there was a program organised by the Oyo State Government to celebrate outstanding females, led by the then late Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Among the items of the program was giving awards to excelling and exemplary female secondary school students. I had the opportunity to be awarded in the category of academic excellence as a result of my performance as the best female student in WAEC that year,” she said.
Joel told FIJ that she attended the event, and that Governor Abiola Ajimobi was also present. She said she was awarded a cash prize of N20,000 and a full first degree scholarship at the University of Ibadan.
“The governor told the director of schools to give me the scholarship letter the following week at the ministry of education. I went there and I received the scholarship letter, and they told me they would get back to me.”
Christiana said that prior to the demise of the late Ajimobi, she was constantly reporting her admission progress to the state’s ministry of education. She said when she gained admission, she also reached out to the ministry to inform them.
“I told them that I have gained admission to University of Ibadan to study law. I went there and wrote several letters to that effect. I also wrote letters to the new governor, Seyi Makinde. I wrote to the ministry of youth and the ministry of women affairs.”
Joel said when nothing was done, she became tired and gave up for months. However, she said she wrote another letter to the ministry of education last year.
“Currently, I intern at a chamber and my principal wrote to the ministry of education and Governor Seyi Makinde but there was no positive feedback,” she said.
Joel said that each time she reached out to the ministry of education, she was told that the letter had been submitted to the governor for approval.
“In fact, there was a time they collected my school and hostel receipts, but nothing was ever done about it,” she said. The 20-year old law student said her parents had been the sole sponsor of her law degree since she gained admission into University of Ibadan in 2020.
