Cairo Ojougboh Foundation Pays Exam Fees for Students in Delta State
By Patience Ikpeme
The Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation has brought smiles to the faces of students and parents in Agbor, Delta State, by donating millions of naira to support education. The foundation was set up to keep alive the memory of the late medical doctor and former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, who was well known for his discipline and service to others.
During a special event held at St. Columba’s Grammar School, which is the school the late Dr. Cairo attended as a young boy, the foundation gave out a cheque of ₦2,700,000. This money is meant to pay the registration fees for students who are about to write their WAEC, NECO, and Junior Secondary School exams. This support comes at a time when many families are struggling to meet up with the costs of final-year examinations.
The Chairperson of the Foundation, Mrs. Bose Ojougboh, said it was important to return to the school that helped build her husband’s character. She told the students that the foundation wants to inspire them to stay focused on their books and work very hard. She told the students that they should not look at obstacles as things that will stop them, but as steps they can climb to grow higher.
Mrs. Ojougboh, who attended the event with her two sons, Nkem and Orieka, had some strong words of advice for the children. She said every small choice they make today will determine what their future looks like. “Discipline, consistency, and focus are non-negotiable for success,” she told the gathering. She urged the students to take charge of their lives by making good decisions both in their studies and their personal behavior.
Apart from paying the exam fees, the foundation also gave out cash gifts to the best-performing students in all nine arms of the school to encourage them to keep up the good work. Every student at the event also received notebooks and writing materials to help them with their daily schoolwork.
The event was full of life as many old students of St. Columba’s, led by Elder Ndudi Agholor, came out in large numbers. They shared happy stories about their time in the school and thanked the current teachers for keeping the school’s standards high. They said it was a thing of pride to see a foundation honoring a late member of their group in such a meaningful way.
The Principal of the school, Rev. Fr. Joseph Ugboh, and the Chairman of Ika South Local Government, Engr. Jerry Ehiwarior, were both there to receive the gifts. They thanked the Ojougboh family for choosing to invest in the children’s future. They said this kind of help is the best way to honor the late Dr. Cairo and told the family that their kindness has given the students a new reason to work hard and reach for their goals.
The day ended with a lot of hope as the students left the hall feeling very encouraged. Many said they now feel more determined to make the right choices and succeed in their coming examinations, knowing that people believe in their future.
