A Media Briefing Was Held and a Speech was delivered by Mr. Moomin Seidu on 31st of December 2023.

MEDIA BRIEFING FROM THE UPPER WEST REGIONAL CHIEF IMAM EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT FUND, DELIVERED BY MR. MOOMIN SEIDU ON DECEMBER 31, 2023, AT THE FORECOURT OF THE UPPER WEST REGIONAL CHIEF IMAM’s RESIDENCE

Distinguished guests, esteemed members of the press, ladies and gentlemen. I am delighted to welcome you to this momentous occasion, a press conference organized by the Regional Chief Imam Educational Endowment Fund. Today’s conference serves as a platform to unveil the second batch of beneficiaries of the Upper West Regional Chief Iman Edueational Endowment Fund and discuss an initiative that embodies the spirit of benevolence and community support for educational enhancement in the Upper West Region.

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During this press conference, we will delve into the specifics of the scholarship program, its eligibility criteria, and the broader impact it aims to achieve within the community.

Esteemed members of the press, as we gather in this symbolic venue, we recognize the importance of education as a cornerstone of personal and communal growth.

The Regional Chief Imam Educational Endowment Fund believes in the transformative power of education, not only as a means to empower individuals but also as a vehicle to build a stronger, more enlightened community.

Distinguished men and women of the press, it is refreshing and sad to reveal that since the commencement of the reign of his Eminence Imam Alhaji Osman Mahama Kanihi (May his reign last long) four years ago, there has been a persistent demand for financial assistance with school fees from parents and guardians seeking sponsorship for their children in tertiary institutions nationwide. Acknowledging the prevalent poverty levels and substandard.

Educational conditions among the youth, the Upper West Chief Imam’s Office finds it imperative to proactively address these challenges by identifying sustainable solutions to enhance the financial support for education within Muslim communities in the Upper West Region.

This initiative aims not only to liberate financially disadvantaged yet academically gifted youth from the constraints hindering their educational aspirations but also to narrow the substantial educational gap between Muslimn youth and their peers, In response to this plight, the Chief Imam initialed the creation of an Educational Endowment Fund as a robust and lasting remedy to the issue at hand.

Indefatigable members of the press.

You will undoubledly acknowledge the profound connection between education and Islam, as substantiated by several instances found in the scriptures. Evidently, In Islam, the pursuit of knowledge is considered a religious duty. The Quran emphasizes the importance of acquiring knowledge as a means of understanding the world and fulfilling one’s obligations as a Muslim. This is evident in Quran 96:1-5 “Read in the name of your Lord who created.

Created man from a lot. Read and your Lord is the Most Generous. Who taught by the pen.

Taught man that which he knew not”. This verse underscores the divine encouragement to seek knowledge through reading and learning.

Consequently, the Upper West Chief Imam Educational Endowment Fund was officially launched on October 13, 2022, at the Wa’Technical Institute. Among its primary objectives is the provision of scholarship opportunities every year for a minimum of some bright yet underprivileged students at various educational levels within the region and beyond, contingent upon the availability of funds. In tandem with the aforementioned principles, the FUND has sponsored sixteen bright and underprivileged students to pursue diverse programs at various tertiary institutions across the length and breadth of the country, for the 2022/2023 academic year.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media, it is very imperative to announce to you that the second application window for receiving applications for the Upper West Regional Chief Imam Educational Endowment Fund was pronounced opened at the FUND’s annual conference held on gh October, 2023 at the Wa Senior high School.

It is my pleasure to disclose during this application window that a total of 44 potential beneficiarics sought sponsorship, presenting applications for thirty-seven (37) distinct programs across various tertiary institutions nationwide. The applicants comprised twenty-eight (28) males and sixteen (16) females, with forty-one (41) identifying as Muslims and three (3) as Christians. Notably, seven (7) were previous beneficiaries during the 2022 academic year, while thirty-three (33) were new applicants.

Following the application process, thirty-seven (37) applicants were shortlisted and duly invited for personal interviews. Remarkably, thirty-five (35) applicants honoured the invitations, presenting themselves for the face-to-face interviews. The Evaluation and Assessment Committee, consisting of eight (8) members, convened four times between October 21 and October 31, 2023, to rigorously assess the applications through these interviews. After thorough deliberations and careful consideration of submitted documents and interview results, the committee recommended 27 candidates as the second batch of beneficiaries for the Upper West Regional Chief Imam Educational Endowment Fund.

Subsequently, distinguished members of the press, I am extremely delighted to reveal that as of November 24, 2023, the school fees for these twenty-seven (27) beneficiaries have been fully settled totalling a whopping amount of Sixty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Six Ghana Cedis Forty-One Pesewas (GHC64, 906.41). The Payment vouchers and receipts have been duly provided to beneficiaries so as to facilitate their enrolment with their respective educational institutions.

The particulars of these beneficiaries for the academic year 2023/2024 are detailed in the table provided below:

TOTAL AMOUNT DISBURSED SO FAR

Based on the above statistics, a whopping amount of Sixty-Four Thousand. Nine Hundred and Six Ghana Cedis Forty-One Pesewas (Ghc64,906.41) was expended on the payment of school fecs for the 2023/2024 FUND beneficiaries.

Diligent members of the press, It brings great pleasure to announce a noteworthy development – the mmber of Christian heneficiaries has expanded from one to two.

This uplifting initiative reflects the inclusive spirit of compassion and justice that transcends religious boundaries.

Resilient members of the press, as we express our gratitude to our donors and sponsors, allow me to draw inspiration from the wisdom of Maya Agelou who wisely expressed: “I’ve Learned that people will forget what you said, people wil) forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”, Similarly, the people of the Upper West Region, along with the Upper West Regional Chief Imam Educational Endownent Fund, will forever hold in their hcarts the profound impact you’ve made-ransforming their tears into smiles, addressing educational hurdles, nurturing academic brilliance, and empowering the forthcoming generation, as these endeavours remain profoundly significant. Through both financial and in-kind contributions, these individuals, organizations, communities and clans of Wa and beyond. representatives of communities, political parties, Islamic organizations, businessmen and women have enabled the establishment of the FUND. like in the spirit of the well-known character Oliver Twist, we can’t help but express our desire for a continuation of the remarkable feelings you’ve already evoked within us. As we draw the curtains on this august event, 1we extend our heartfelt appreciation to all and sundry as well as the tenacious members of thc press for gracing us with your presence. Your role in discriminating the values of education, compassion, and community unity, which are the core principles of the Upper West Regional Chief Imam Educational Endowment Fund, is invaluable. Your coverage plays a crucial role in amplifying our message and reaching a broader audience. fostering awareness and understanding. Once again, thank you for your dedication and we trust that your commitment to spreading the message of education and community solidarity will pave the way for a brighter future for All

Long Live the Upper West Regional Chief Imam

Long live the Upper West Regional Chief Imam Endowment Fund

Long Live the Upper West Region

Long Live Ghana

Thank you

Momin Seidu

(Council Secretary)

For more information about the Upper West Regional Chicf Imam Educational Endowment Fund, please contact: 0206596026 (Moomin Seidu- Council Secretary) and 0204206749

(Abdul-Rahman Zakaria-Board Secretary).