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| Bola Ige |
Chief Bola Ige was the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice as well as Minister of Power and Steel of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1999 to 2001. He was also the former Governor of Old Oyo State (now split into Oyo and Osun states) from 1979 to 1983. His passion for free, qualitative education for the children of the poor was unrivalled as he diligently implemented a programme of free education at all levels in Oyo State when he was governor. This feat is yet to be surpassed in the state. He was assassinated by yet-to-be-identified gunmen on 23 December 2001 in his house.
Like inseparable Siamese twins, his wife Justice Atinuke Ige who distinguished herself at the Bench lived all her life to bring succour and hope to those who had lost hope. She was responsible for the education of many children from the ranks of the poor in the society up to university level. Many of these beneficiaries were not related to her in any way but they are making waves in the society today.
In 2013, the family of the duo instituted a scholarship award in memory of Justice Atinuke Ige worth N2.5million for each of the two winners annually. It was for students in public secondary schools in Oyo and Osun states to have their Advanced Level Cambridge Examination studies at The Vale Tutorial College Ibadan. The past winners came from the following schools; Command Secondary School Bode Igbo, Wesley College of Science Elekuro, Alayande School of Science, Government College and Queens School Apata Ibadan. The 2013 and 2014 winners are now in Federal universities all over the country.
Furthermore, in 2014, the family initiated another scholarship award this time in memory of Chief Bola Ige himself. It was worth N12 million for each of the two winners in every year. This is for students that are academically sound but whose parents are unable to finance their academic pursuits in public primary schools in Oyo and Osun states. The two winners (a male and a female) would have the opportunity of having their secondary school education from JSS1 to SS3 at The Vale College Ibadan with all expenses paid by the Bola Ige family including boarding fees. The past winners came from Community Primary School Aiyekale and Command Day School Mokola in Ibadan as well as Salvation Army Middle School Alekuwodo Osogbo.
For 2016 awards, 200 students from public primary schools in Oyo and Osun states would engage in a written test on Saturday 16 April for the selection of 10 finalists. At the same time, another set of 200 students from public secondary schools in Oyo and Osun states would also be involved in a written test to select another 10 finalists. The Grand Finale will take place on Saturday 14 May 2016 when the four lucky winners will emerge. These are scholarship awards that have turned the lives of beneficiaries round positively and which made their parents to exclaim ‘Truly, Bola and Atinuke Ige live On!
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