Port Harcourt – No fewer than 45 students on Saturday departed the country to Turkey to acquire their first degrees under Omega Power Ministries (OPM) Foreign Undergraduate Scholarship Programme.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students will be furthering their education at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Karabuk University, and Kirklareli University, all in Turkey.
The newly graduated Secondary School students mainly from poor backgrounds were overjoyed as they boarded an Air Peace Aircraft from Port Harcourt International Airport to Lagos en route to Ankara, Turkey.
One of the beneficiaries, Mary Joseph, 17, an Akwa Ibom indigene and mother of twin boys, told NAN that she lost hope in life when she was raped, aged 15.
“It all started in 2017 when I was about graduating from secondary school and my father suddenly died. So, I dropped out from school.
“Later, my late father’s brother kicked us out from my father’s house, and so we moved into an uncompleted building just to survive,” she said.
Joseph, who got admission to study a four-year Management course at Karabuk University, Turkey, said that things became difficult for her family after her father died.
“One day, when my mother was not in the house, a man came in and raped me. I got pregnant and lost hope in life.
“Later, the General Overseer of OPM, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, heard of my predicament and took me into his house until I got delivered of twin boys in 2019.
“The general overseer has been taking care of me and my children, and I cannot thank him enough for this scholarship to study abroad, that will change my life for good,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Confidence Emmanuel, 21, who got admission to study Nursing, expressed delight having passed the scholarship examination sat by thousands of students from across the country.
“I’m happy that God used Pastor Chinyere to bring me and my family out of poverty with this opportunity to further my studies abroad,” she added.
Also, Prince Ogbogbo, 22, who could not control his excitement for the opportunity, commended the general overseer and the church for caring for the less privileged in the society.
Speaking, Apostle Chinyere said that OPM would fund the 45 students’ education through tithes and offerings of members of the church.
Chinyere said he was motivated to embark on the humanitarian activities by the Biblical scripture of Mathew 25:34-40 – where Jesus Christ advocated and cared for the poor.
“We have given scholarships to so many people to study in Nigeria. Some of them we trained from Secondary School to university level in the country.
“Some of them have graduated and could not get jobs while the few students we earlier trained abroad are now working and paying tight and contributing to the church.
“So, we decided to invest more on foreign scholarships to have more impact on the lives of the students and their families as well as the church,” Chinyere said.
The general overseer said the students would study four years courses, in various disciplines, including medicine, engineering, and aerodynamics among others.
According to him, the church has also awarded scholarships to many other students who will soon depart the country.
“About 28 students will proceed to Poland on scholarships in November, while five others will also proceed on scholarships to universities in Canada and the United Kingdom in December.
“In addition, we will soon commence another round of examination for scholarships for those wishing to acquire Masters Degrees abroad,” he said.
Chinyere further said the church had built free schools, accommodation estates; a specialist hospital and restaurants where people irrespective of their religion access without paying money.
He noted that OPM had also donated free boreholes to several communities in Abia and Rivers states as part of the church’s support to the society. (NAN)
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