BY CHUWANG DUNGS
Managing Partner of Pius D. Pius legal firm, Mr Pius Dingba, has said that his foundation, PD Pius Development Initiative is targeting at least 500 persons in his community for his scholarship scheme.
Pius, who is a young lawyer, said that the scholarship scheme, which is in its ninth edition, is his way of giving back to society.
He disclosed this on Friday during the award of scholarship to 25 students drawn from various higher institutions in Taraba State and 3 students from Secondary schools in Zing in an event held in Bizare hotel, Zing LGA, Taraba State.
“The NGO which runs under the law firm, PD Pius and Associates, is specially dedicated for corporate social responsibility, trying to give back to the society that made us who we are.
“Every year we try to hold the event targeting secondary school students by organizing essay competitions for them where we give them prizes and awards at the end of the exercise.
“We pay their school fees, buy textbooks for them and so on. We also engage medical teams to give free medical care and counseling on different diseases.
“We also have the tertiary institution scholarship by partnering with willing individuals that are interested in sponsoring. In the past years we have been dealing with Rev. Father Charles Nyame who has been providing the funds for the scholarship.
This year’s event, the funds were provided by Innocent Umar. About 25 students from different tertiary institutions benefited.
“Also, during the program we offered free legal service. We are open to partnership with anyone that is ready to work with us in the future.
“Presently, we have been holding the event annually and the target individuals are not more than 200. In the future we are targeting 500 beneficiaries and getting to do the program quarterly instead of annually. That depends on if we get willing partners to partner with us.” He said.
Also on the offer are Pro Bono or free legal services and free medical tests for the people.