RDSF Updates PROGRAMS & TESTIMONIALS 1

Student A is a 100level medical rehabilitation student of the University of Nigeria Nsukka. She never had the opportunity to know her mother who the family lost during child birth. Yet, after her mother ’ s death, she was in the hospital for months because her father could not afford the medical bills until a charity organization came to their rescue. Her grandmother took her home and raised her. Her grandmother used to break stones and sell to builders and this was what she used to support her through primary and secondary school. The old woman is currently down with stroke and it is student A ’ s dream to switch to medicine. Her father sells hairnet and cannot afford to cater for her education. Student A has been adopted by a donor/ RDSF partner and we are glad to support her to achieve her dream of becoming a medical doctor. 2

Student B is a 300level chemical engineering student of LAUTECH with a first class CGPA. He is the 5th born in a family of 10 children and grew up in Iseyin, Oyo State. His father is a driver and his mother is a trader; she sells cassava and yam. He is the first and only child to go beyond secondary education because of his passion and the father only agreed because at the time, his vehicle was still functioning properly.

Unfortunately for student B, his father’s vehicle had an accident and this grounded his father’s meagre income. When RDSF met him, he lacked accommodation and was sleeping in the mosque. His hope was that his academic profile would earn him a scholarship someday but our findings shows that his academic grades have been dropping because of poor funding. RDSF is happy to support student B. 3

Student C is a 300level microbiology student of Adekunle Ajasin University in Ondo State. He is the first of two children of his parent and his younger brother is still in junior secondary school. His mother is a petty trader and the breadwinner of the family; she sells pap, firewood, and charcoal while his father is a driver who assist to transport timbers from the forest to the town in Ondo State. However, his father is a gambler and he is also addicted to alcohol and cigarettes. In 2018, the father had an accident in the forest and also became very sick. This put him out of job from 2018 until 2022; yet, he resumed taking alcohol and betting after recovering from illness. Student C has only been able to pay for 1st semester 100 level and 1st semester 300 level fees making him hugely indebted to the school and unable to concentrate on his studies. He works as a POS attendant in school, engage in several menial jobs and squats with his boss; all in the bid for survival. RDSF is proud to adopt and support student C.

Student D is a final year medical laboratory science student of Niger Delta University in Bayelsa State with an outstanding CGPA of 4.9. Her initial plan was to study medicine but she changed her course after gaining admission because she realized she would not be able to work and fund the course. She grew up with her grandmother because her mother was raped at a young age and this created a resentment in her. However, her grandmother who raised her eventually passed away before she could get into the university. She also lost her mother and never knew her father. In her 4th year, she never gave up her dream and funded her 4th year with a student loan.

Below is a text she sent the beneficiaries’ WhatsApp group:

Student E is a 200 level electronics engineering student of Federal University of Technology Akure. He is the first born in a family of six and lives in Ikorodu, Lagos. His father is a bike rider and the mother is a hairdresser who does not even.

His siblings once stopped school because the father was in debt after his bike which he took on hire purchase was stolen. He took up a job of N10,000 monthly and started saving to enrol in school while also assisting the family. RDSF is happy to support student C.