Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Tuesday awarded scholarships to 50 students selected from those that participated in the Christmas party he hosted for children in his palace.
While receiving the children drawn from primary and secondary schools, as well as schools for persons with Special Needs at his Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife, Oba Ogunwusi urged the kids to adopt good mentors from the society.
Speaking through his queen, Olori Temitope Adesegun-Ogunwusi, who doubles as CEO of the Ooni’s NGO; Hopes Alive Initiatives, the monarch urged the children to remain focused on their education, imbibe the spirit of hard work and look up to good people with impeccably virtuous character as role models.
A statement by Moses Olafare, the spokesperson to the royal father, quoting Ogunwusi obtained in Osogbo further read, “While you listen to music, watch movies and socialize, pick from what is good only. Do not imbibe bad habits because such is capable of destroying you and your purpose in life.
“Kabiyesi cannot wait to hear and celebrate your success stories in the nearest future, so he is urging you to be right and do right at all times.
“To our daddies and mummies here present, we need to train these children to have the fear of God. When a child fears God, they will be diligent, hardworking, obedient to their parents and every other people that they come in contact with.”
The statement further said the 50 beneficiaries of the scholarship were selected after cultural and academic presentations by the children.