Avoid Bad Company, Rev. Cookey-Gam Charges 122 DAAICF Scholarship Beneficiaries

The 16th Edition of the Dr. Andrew A. Igwe Care Foundation (DAAICF) Annual Scholarship Payment Programme was successfully held on September 6, 2024, at the Assemblies of God Church Auditorium (AG1), beside the old Akabuka Police Station.

The event brought together scholarship beneficiaries, parents, guardians, community leaders, and well-wishers in a celebration of education, empowerment, and humanitarian service.

The programme commenced with a session of praise and worship led by the Chaplain of the Foundation, Pastor Izu Eresia-Eke, as participants gathered to thank God for another successful year of scholarship support.

Delivering the keynote exhortation, Rev. Lawrence Cookey-Gam advised the 122 scholarship beneficiaries—comprising 42 tertiary institution students and 80 secondary school students—to be mindful of the company they keep and the associations they form.

According to him, the people young individuals associate with can either positively influence their future or lead them astray.

“If Dr. Andrew Igwe had kept bad company, perhaps he would not have become the instrument God is using today to support all of you,” Rev. Cookey-Gam remarked.

He encouraged the students to remain focused on their education, cultivate positive relationships, and embrace values that would help them achieve their goals and become responsible members of society.

Also speaking at the event, one of the parents of the beneficiaries, Bishop Eze, commended the Foundation for its consistent support of students over the years.

He noted that although Dr. Andrew Igwe is neither the richest individual in the community nor a politician, he has continued to make personal sacrifices to ensure that hundreds of students receive educational support.

Bishop Eze praised Dr. Igwe's dedication to education and humanitarian service, describing his commitment as a rare example of selflessness and compassion.

In a similar vein, the Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, Elder Enyioma Dick, appealed to parents and guardians to ensure that the scholarship funds are used strictly for the educational needs of the beneficiaries.

He emphasized that the funds were intended to support tuition, academic materials, and other educational expenses rather than household or family utility bills.

The beneficiaries, who received their scholarship payment slips during the programme, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Foundation for the opportunity to continue their education without financial hardship.

Parents and guardians also offered prayers and words of appreciation for Dr. Andrew Igwe and the Foundation, asking God to continue blessing and strengthening them in their mission to support education and community development.

The event concluded on a joyful note with renewed encouragement for students to pursue academic excellence and remain focused on their future aspirations.

A key lesson from the programme was the importance of generosity and service to humanity.

As the Foundation reminded participants:

"It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Giving does not always have to be in the form of money. It can also be through kind words, encouragement, advice, mentorship, or prayers that positively impact the lives of others.

To God be all the glory.

Date: September 6, 2024
Venue: Assemblies of God Church Auditorium (AG1), Akabuka, Rivers State