Onyeme: Redefining Wealth Redistribution Via A Potent Scholarship Scheme
BY FIDELIS EGUGBO
An Economist will gladly tell you that, “the value of money is what one can do with the money” and a proud Catholic will say, “the greatest sacrifice that you can make as a Christian is, engaging in the act of charity.”
A politician who has keyed into the MORE Agenda of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, will say, “our administration is inclusive, all-embracing and requires every Deltan to be positively engaged, contributing to the growth of the society.”
The name, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, is a household name in Delta State; his philanthropic activities knows no bound.
Long before he became the Deputy Governor of Delta State, he was reputed to be a friend of the needy, who identifies with the rich and the poor without discrimination.
His philosophy is that, “if God has blessed you, such a blessing is for the people,” and, true to his belief, a lot of persons have been blessed and more are still being blessed through his activities.
His emergence as the Deputy Governor of Delta State has also made the office of the Deputy Governor a beehive of activities with majority of the people visiting the office mainly seeking for assistance. I can still recall vividly when someone told me early last year that, “Home Boy, e be like say una dey run humanitarian government for Delta State o, see as una waiting room dey crowded with people waiting to see Deputy Governor for assistance.”
That is life; people are blessed with different gifts but there is nobody who is entirely “useless” if we go with the Biblical statement that you are created in His own image and likeness.
So, to some people, Sir Monday Onyeme is doing so much as a cheerful giver, while in some circles, he is not doing enough. One iconic Ndokwa born musician, Chief Augustine Ojinji, who was popularly known as Ubulu or Love A.U., in one of his philosophical statements, said, “if, as a guest, you are complaining that food or drink is not enough at a party, try and organize one so that you will know what is involved in organizing a party.” As such, to those who believe that Sir Onyeme is not also doing enough, see him as human being, not as a superman.
For most households in Delta State today, what they look forward to every year is to learn about the date for the commencement of the annual Monday Onyeme Scholarship Scheme, a scheme which has enabled some people go through the university from 200 level to their final year.
Life is about touching lives and the greatest legacy that one can bequeath to the people is quality education.
Though Sir Onyeme, in his humble submission, has said that what inspired him to start the scholarship scheme in 2016 was to encourage people to acquire education, recalling how he almost did not go to school because of inadequate finance. To him, a little sum of money can make the difference in the life of someone who is determined to be educated in the four walls of the university.
Unlike when one may dole out money to an individual as scholarship that may last for four years, the Monday Onyeme’s scholarship scheme was designed in such a way that for anyone to benefit annually, one must earn it by passing an aptitude test which, most often, are administered and either marked, or closely supervised, by him. With such an inclination, the beneficiaries must be committed to their books. I know of a man whose children benefitted from the scheme all through their university years and last year I saw someone who after two unsuccessful attempts, eventually benefitted from the programme and she is already gearing up for this year’s edition.
To such great men like Malcolm X, an African-American human rights activist who was assassinated in 1965, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” To Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” The philosopher, Maimonides, will tell you that, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” as such, last year, more than N100, 000, 000 was splashed on the beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme with some of the beneficiaries getting as much as N500, 000.
Releasing a statement announcing the commencement of registration for this year’s edition of the scholarship programme, Mr Leo Ubuane, on behalf of Monday Onyeme Foundation, organizers of the scholarship scheme, said that interested beneficiaries should visit mondayonyemefoundation.org.ng to register for the scholarship. He disclosed that closing date for registration is Monday, July 16, 2025.
The scheme has grown to an extent that organizations and education-loving individuals have keyed into the programme and donate different sums of money which would also, be disbursed to the beneficiaries. Last year, the amount given and the number of beneficiaries exponentially increased and with the level of awareness that has been created, no doubt, this year’s edition will witness more participants. The prayer is for God to give Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme and his friends the means to cater for all those who will qualify for the scholarship.
What Sir Onyeme is doing is unique; he has, in a lot of ways, made undergraduates to take their education more serious, he has also provided an avenue for those who desire to assist people in their quest for quality formal education without knowing how to go about it as he has provided a platform for people to sponsor individuals in their university education.
While Sir Onyeme deserves kudos for sustaining such a programme even after emerging as Deputy Governor, one will not also, fail to call on all Deltans to key fully into the activities of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori by believing strongly that making Delta great is a collective responsibility, making Delta our dream state, a crime-free state, a state that is progressive is our collective responsibility. Yes! If Delta is the haven for investors, the safe haven for all of us, it is not for the sole benefit of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori or his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme; so, in your own little way, do the right thing and encourage others to constantly engage in positive behaviour and all of us will be proud to say, we are Deltans.
God bless Delta State.
Comrade Fidelis Egugbo is the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Media and the Chief Press Secretary to Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme.
