The management of LAPO Microfinance Bank has splashed over N50 million scholarship on 180 secondary and tertiary students in 34 states of the federation.
Cynthia Ikponmwosa, managing director, LAPO Microfinance Bank, disclosed this at the Scholarship and Skills Acquisition Award Ceremony on Thursday in Benin City.
Ikponmwosa represented by Oluremi Akande, director of Marketing, LAPO MFB, said the organisation has spent nothing less than N400million on scholarship since its inception in 2007.
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She said that 3,951 students have so far benefited from the programme since 2007.
According to her, “I am pleased to inform you that we have 180 new beneficiaries that will be awarded scholarships this year, 2023 across 34 States where LAPO operates in Nigeria.
“For us at LAPO, this presents an opportunity to complement our Corporate Social Responsibility with the ambition of parents to actualise the educational dream for their wards.
“So far, the noble efforts of the LAPO scholarship scheme have nurtured the dreams of 3,951 students since its inception in 2007.”
The LAPO MFB boss noted that the scholarship scheme remained an important event within the framework of the organisation’s commitment to educational development in line with its vision and mission mandate to improve lives.
Ikponmwosa opined that the educational empowerment was the LAPO Microfinance Bank way of supporting its clients children and the less privileged in society.
She also disclosed that Partners for Development (PFD) has empowered over 200 students within the LAPO scholarship scheme between 2014 and 2023.
Ikponmwosa, however, commanded the management of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) for their immense contributions to the success of LAPO skills acquisition scheme.
She posited that the two organizations have continued to provide technical training on vocational skills to young Nigerians.
She added that from 2016 till date, a total of 924 skilled youths have been trained and certified in various vocations.
The LAPO MFB boss appealed for the support of corporate organisation and development-focused individuals in expanding the scope of the scheme.
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Earlier, Christiana Okojie, chairpersons, LAPO scholarship scheme who congratulated the beneficiaries for the award, advised them to put in their best in the academic activities.
Okojie, who said the organisation spent nothing less than N30million for the scheme annually, noted that the management will not hesitate to withdraw the award from any student for poor academy performance.
