A few years ago, when Bilikisu Abdulrahman was a pupil of Olowora Primary School, Isheri, Lagos, a former pupil of the school, Blessing Ugbebor, visited.

Blessing visited her former school as a pupil of Mind Builders High School.  She got a scholarship to the school in 2018 when Mind Builders School renovated Olowora Primary School as part of its 20th anniversary celebration and she impressed guests with her delivery of a vote of thanks at the event.

Blessing who excelled in the entrance examination, shared how hard work earned her  scholarship to the elite school and encouraged pupils of her former school to be studious.

That visit made a strong impression on Bilikisu, who was then in Primary Five, and she started dreaming of joining Blessing at Mind Builders after her primary education.

But to do so, she had to win a scholarship as her mother, Mrs. Khadija Abdulrahman, a low-income nanny, was raising her four girls alone after being abandoned by their father.

“The first day Blessing walked into our school to tell us about Mind Builders, that was when I said I would also try to get this scholarship because I really like the way she talked about the school.  I said I will work hard and try to get to the school.

“I read hard, and my common entrance exam I made sure that I passed.  I read all night and when the entrance exam came I wrote it; and after that I prayed I get the scholarship.,” said Bilikisu, now 11 years old.

READ ALSO:

• Nigeria vs Guinea Bissau: Umar, Ekong help Super Eagles to 2-0 win
• Defection suit: Umahi, deputy know fate March 8
• Dangote Refinery to reduce Africa’s petroleum importation by 36%, says APPO

After writing the scholarship examination and not hearing from Mind Builders, Bilikisu’s mother, persuaded her to begin registration at the public junior secondary school closest to their home.

Bilikisu was heartbroken. But just a day later, her mother got a call that she had been given a scholarship to attend Mind Builders.

“Some days to resumption I went to her (Bilikisu’s) bed and tapped her leg and said ‘Biliki, I don’t have money to send you to Mind Builders so let us start our registration now (at the public school)’.

“She was sad until we came back from the school.  But when we got home that day her aunty (teacher) called me, ‘Biliki is going to Mind Builders tomorrow’.  She was just jumping, happy.  The following day was Friday September 10.  We were at the school.  She was registered and everything was given to her; even the uniform.

“Till I got home I was just praising God and singing. I wished for it but did not think it was possible because she is a Muslim and she is poor.  It just by the grace of God,” she said.

The scholarship which covers her tuition, books, activities, transportation, is worth N1,063,125 yearly.  The only thing she was required to pay for was her school uniforms.

Principal of Mind Builders High School, Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Olatunbode said Bilikisu scored highest among indigent pupils that took the entrance examination.  But her score, 70, was 10 marks short of the scholarship benchmark.

READ ALSO:

• Lagos buys two new speed trains for first metroline project
• Troops dislodge, kill IPOB/ESN members in Anambra stronghold
• Three nabbed for murder of Doctor, friend, withdrawal of N2m from his account

However she said providence was on Bilikisu’s side and the school’s governing board, chaired by Mr. Tunbosun Falore decided to offer her the scholarship with the proviso that she must reach the 80 percentile to maintain it throughout her secondary education.

Olatunbode said: “At the end of the exams, Bilikisu actually scored 70 percent, which actually is not the cut off for the scholarship. The scholarship mark is 80 per cent and our normal candidates could afford the fees.  We already had like four candidates who scored 80 and above. But the scholarship scheme is not meant for the candidates who could pay, but for learners whose parents could not really afford it.

“We now said it will mean that we don’t have any scholarship candidate for this 2021/2022 session.  But the Chairman insisted. And it was based on that philanthropic mind of assisting the needy that he said, ‘okay, give it to the child that scored 70. But as soon as she gets here, call the mother; speak with her to encourage her daughter to improve on her academic performance.

“The rule is that, once you come in as a scholarship student, you should be able to maintain your 80 percent. Once you retain that, you get your scholarship till you finish your secondary education.”

I fainted when my wife said I’m not father of our 14-yr-old daughter — Father of four

Mrs. Olatunbode said Bilikisu had already improved and achieved over 80 percent last term.

While Bilikisu was the only indigent pupil to benefit from the scholarship this session, Mrs. Olatunbode said the school was willing to offer more.  She however lamented the lack of interest by public schools in Ikeja and Magodo environs to allow their primary six pupils participate in the scholarship examination.  Only two pupils from Olowora Primary School took the scholarship entrance examination.

“There is one where we actually visited; we wrote a letter that they should bring their pupils to participate in the examination.  They told us that except we get a letter from the ministry of education authorizing them to allow their children write the exam that they would not present their pupils. It is a volunteering thing; it is not a compulsion,” she said.

The Nation