BY RAYMOND NWADUBA

History was made Tuesday, August 29, as 11 pupils emerged as beneficiaries of the maiden edition of the Brilliant Indigent Pupils Scholarship (BIPS).
The scheme, which is specifically for Delta state indigenes, is a part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) put together by Fountain of Joy and Comfort Foundation in conjunction with Margaret Lawrence University and Margaret Lawrence High School, Galilee, Ika North -East LGA, Delta state.
In a well attended awards ceremony by the crème de la crème in Delta state, from both the political, education, public and private sectors, and the general public that included parents of the award recipients, it was an endless outpouring of encomiums for the organizers of this timely act of benevolence and gesture at a point when Nigerians are going through a lot in the country as a result of the harsh -bitting economic realities.
Speaking shortly before the recipients were given their awards, the Vice Chancellor, Margaret Lawrence University, Professor Augustine Odili, took time to explain how they arrived at the last 11 names or beneficiaries. 
According to him, it was a daunting task going round all the 25 Local Government Areas of the state to mobilize  and conduct the examination.
His words: "I must state categorically that this scholarship programme is for Delta state indigenes, and this was why we demanded or requested indigene certificate to be sure.  
"That's the vision of the founder. It's possible he could have another vision tomorrow, because there are other things we want to do, but this is his first vision, he said.
Speaking further, the VC noted how they went round the 25 LGAs in the state to mobilize, so much so that no one in all the Public schools in the state would say they didn't hear about the program.  
Professor Odili stated that he was fully involved in the entire process, therefore he has full understanding of what transpired. 
According to him, "Even though I couldn't be everywhere, I touched all the three (3) Senatorial districts  in the state during the selection examination.
"After the first exam, we did the marking and collation with the focus to pick at least 3 persons from each LGA and invite them for the final exam here in our campus.
"Therefore the total number ought to be 75 when you multiply 3 by 25 which is the number of LGAs in Delta.
"However we selected the best 80 instead of 75 because they were ties or people scoring the same figure.
"We reached out to the 80 via the same means by which we have been communicating with them, but unfortunately only about 40 of them made it to this final exam where some LGAs were not even represented at all.
"This forced us to now decide to pick the best 10 pupils that met our criteria for the awards, but you will also see 11 persons instead of 10 because there was also a tie" , he concluded. 
The Majority Leader, Delta state House of Assembly. Hon. Engr. Emmanuel Emeka Nwaobi praised the Chairman of the institutions, Chief Paul Odili for his philanthropy towards Deltans.
He prayed God to keep blessing him to do more and the beneficiaries not to misuse the opportunity but to realize that to whom much is given, much is expected.
Hon. Nwaobi stated that the state will continue to partner such program which is in sync or tandem with the agenda of the Delta state government. 
One of the beneficiaries parent, who spoke on behalf of the other parents, couldn't hold back her unspeakable joy when she said that "This has lifted a huge burden off us the parents.
"I pray that the good Lord will continue to bless him'", she concluded.
Amongst the other dignitaries at the epoch event are: Permanent Secretary Basic & Secondary Education who was represented,  Permanent Secretary SUBEB, Executive Secretary, Bursary & Scholarship Board, CIE, Ika North- East LGA amongst others.
The names of the 11 beneficiaries are as follows:
1. Overare Isabela Egbunuoghene
2. Charles Zephaniah Nene
3. Elijah Peculiar  
4. Isaiah Chinaza Gift
5. Akporobaro Purity Oroh
6. Clement Excellent
7. Tony Akpoblukaemi Prince
8. Okukulabe Urirtoghene
9. Ofuani Stephanie Ifunanyachukwu
10. Edafiovo Omakoro Aherhe
11. Chukwuemeka Nathan Chukwudumebi