Relief finally came the way of 65 indigent students of the University of Abuja on Saturday at the school campus, as a renowned philanthropist and the founder, Hajiya Hadiza Mamman Vatsa Foundation, Ambassador Hadiza Mamman Vatsa, settled their school fees.
The beneficiaries, who range from orphans to other classes of the underprivileged in the society and who struggle to finance their education, were emotional and appreciated the humanitarian gestures of the Ambassador for coming to their aid.
The scholarships, which cut across different faculties of the University according to the donor, was part of her service to humanity and God adding that it has always been an integral part of her life.
“I have initiated this since a very long time but I decided to stay low-key and sometimes I don’t want people to recognise me or say that I’m doing this or that.
“I believe that I’m doing this for God. It is not how many billions or trillions you have, do you have the heart to give? That is what I have.”
Dignitaries who are present at the event which included the immediate past Majority Leader, Kogi State House of Assembly, Honourable Murtar Baje and Head, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Abuja, Professor Sharif Ghalihu Ibrahim, the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, they described Ambassador Mamman Vatsa’s philanthropic gesture as one worthy of emulation.
While speaking, the former lawmaker said the singular act of uplifting multitudes of the downtrodden by the Foundation should serve as a shining light for others to emulate.
“We should emulate good people like Hajiya Hadiza Mamman Vatsa. She has been doing this for so many years and she has passion for it. My advice to everyone out there, that has the opportunity and have the means is to emulate her and do to the less privileged,” Honourable Baje said.
Professor Ghalihu Ibrahim, in his submission, said Hajiya Mamman Vatsa’s support to the students of the University came as a surprise. He added that building the lives of others through provision of scholarship would have ripple effects on the larger society in the long-run.
“Other students have also come to felicitate with the beneficiaries as well as learn from this particular humanitarian gesture so that they can also contribute to the society as well as to the less privileged. So this is the major lesson learned on this particular occasion.”
The Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Professor Na’Allah, while thanking the philanthropist for her kind gesture and commitment to the institution in particular, urged the recipients of the scholarship to maximise the opportunity given to them.
“Know that to whom much is given, much is expected. Be good students, demonstrate commitment to scholarship and character. If anybody tells you that the government is the only source for public education, that’s a lie. The best of Universities in the world are public universities like Cambridge, if you find out, government may probably be responsible for 30% of their funding,” the Vice Chancellor admonished.
