SCHOLARSHIP awards for the physically-challenged, indigent students and merited scholars have been established to accomplish the humanitarian works of the late Mr Dele Akerele, who promoted arts in the country, especially William Shakepeare’s plays.
Speaking at the first year remembrance of Mr Akerele, which was held at the School for the Visually-Impaired in Owo, Ondo State last Thursday, the sponsor of Akerele Sefunmi Prizes, Mrs Maureen Brereton, said that Akerele, who died on September 11, last year, was committed to humanity and generous to his community people.
She cited several examples of how he funded the education of many people who otherwise would not have been able to have access to education.
Mrs Brereton said that the School for the Visually-Impaired in Owo, which is the hometown of the late arts lover, would be the sole beneficiary of the physically-challenged scholarship scheme, while the Book Prize award would be extended to meritorious scholars nationwide.
She also mentioned that the late Akerele sponsored the staging of several of William Shakespeare’s plays in schools in order to orientate the youth and inculcate in them love and peace for their country.
“It is fitting to also honour the legacy of his late daughter with the Akerele Sefunmi Prizes for Shakespeare Plays.
“Akerele Sefunmi Prizes for Shakespeare Plays will be given to high achieving young scholars of William Shakespeare plays and the prizes package will include a visit to Stratford-Upon-Avon in England, which is the birthplace of Shakespeare.
“The late Sefunmi Akerele, who was born in England, died on April 23, 2008. She shared the same birth date and death date with William Shakespeare. It is something positive to name the prize after her name. Among the recipients of the 2018 prizes are Nigerian young scholars Enonwa Omobude Favour, Helen Taiwo and Joy Williams,” the sponsor said.
The principal of the school, Mr Mike Ologbese, thanked the foundation for extending its kind gestures to students of the school.
He said the scholarship would go a long way in making the students appreciate the works of Shakespeare, while also benefiting from the lessons.
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