FOR Nigerian students who are academically gifted but financially disadvantaged, the path to acquiring education may not be difficult again with the launch of a nongovernmental organization, Your Black Matters (YBM) in Nigeria as the organization has put in place a platform of providing a four-year university scholarship for such students.
The scholarship, which is worth N2,000,000 per recipient, is a collaborative effort between YBM and Dios Missionary Church, the Fajinmi Foundation and private donors to allow recipients to attend African private universities, and the selection of private universities, according to the founder, Dr Francesca Fajinmi, is because of their seamless academic sessions.
Speaking during the launch of the organisation in Nigeria, Dr Fajinmi stated that the scholarship can be assessed on the foundation’s website, adding that aside from giving university scholarship to students who are interested in going to school but have no financial support, the organisation will also be extending its service of uplifting and amplifying the voices of young people to be relevant in society while ensuring they can stand on their own and have voices that will be heard everywhere.
Speaking on what propelled her to give the scholarship and create a platform that will better the lives of others; Dr Fajinmi said that “for centuries, blacks have endured unfair treatment and marginalisation worldwide and YBM is a nongovernmental body that was initially founded in the United States with a clear and unwavering mission; to amplify, uplift and inspire the black race.
According to her, parts of the efforts put in place to ensure black youths attain their potentials in addition to the university scholarship include workshops and seminars on mental decolonisation, the re-launch of a podcast series titled ‘Reimagining Black Relations,’ which features experts from various fields who not only discuss but proffer solutions to challenges faced by the black race.
Highlighting the efforts that have charted a path of development for youths, Dr Fajinmi mentioned the Pan African Youth (PAY) Global conference, adding that aside global seminars and efforts in the United States, YBM has established footprints in African countries like Senegal, Brazil, Gambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa and Ghana before setting up its main African mission with the launch of the organisation in Nigeria.
There are huge testimonials on the effects of YBM on lives; Jackie Dupont-Walker, the president of the Ward Economic Development Corp in Los Angeles stated that “black is a universal colour and YBM gives me a keen sense of purpose. It brings forward hope for the future while remembering and honouring the past. Finally, the dots are connected; Africans in Diaspora and Africa. I am grateful for the vision and the visionary”.
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