A foundation in honour of the late ex-Minister of State for Finance, Jubril Martins-Kuye, has given bursary awards of N5m to 21 undergraduate medical students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.
The beneficiaries, who are indigenes of the Ijebu-North Local Government Area, constituted the maiden batch of the bursary scheme being sponsored by Gbolahan Martins-Kuye, a US-based family physician and son of the former minister.
Martins-Kuye, in a statement by the Media Director of the NGO, Femi Adeleye, on Friday, stated that he considered the bursary award scheme as a valuable investment in encouraging and raising more medical practitioners from Ijebu-North Local Government.
He said, “Additionally, this initiative is an intentional attempt towards securing the future of young people and boosting the healthcare sector.
“It is, therefore, a commitment to support students in achieving their dreams and to provide an opportunity for a better future to the students.
“I know the economy is biting… but this bursary has been designed to support you to stay focused and excel in your studies responsibly.
“So, it is given to you without winks! We therefore expect academic excellence, and we expect some feedback through the project coordinator, and of course, we will found an online community where we would periodically check up on you to see how you are fairing.”
Martins-Kuye who graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Lagos in the year 2000 said that his passion to give back to his community emanated from his desire to raise leaders and boost human capital development in the healthcare sector.
The medical doctor said the bursary award was a project meant to sustain academic culture, emphasising that the students who would still be in school in subsequent years may continually benefit from the scheme as long as they continue to demonstrate high-standing academic performance and the passion to work with the organisation.
In his remarks, the bursary award scheme’s project coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Ugwu, explained that the scheme was strictly for Ijebu North indigenes medical students in OOU, Ago-Iwoye, urging the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by staying more dedicated to their studies.
Speaking at the event, the National President of Ijebu Descendants, Mr Taiwo Nodiru, commended the founder of the scheme, Gbolahan Martins-Kuye for coming to the aid of the students at this challenging time in the country.
Nodiru said that though Martins-Kuye may be living in far away Texas, United States, he was very sensitive to the plight of his people back home.
He said it was commendable that the family physician is following closely on the rich legacies of his late father, Jubril Martins-Kuye, whose dedication to supporting education, healthcare, and community development while also ensuring that those in need had access to opportunities for growth and success remains unparalleled.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Obabi Zainab Ayomide, a 500-level medical student and another 400-level student, Ogundipe Timothy, appreciated the JMK Foundation for the award saying that the much-needed support would go a long way in assisting them in their educational pursuit.
JMK as he was fondly called, died in January 2021 at the age of 78.
He served as minister of state for finance in the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and was appointed the minister of Commerce and Industry by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010.
Peoplesmind
