Fortunes have finally smiled on Ifebube Chelsea Benson, who was decorated by the National Examination Council, in November last year, for coming tops, as overall best in the 2023 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), as she has now been offered the opportunity to study in any university of her choice free.
In addition, a cash award of more than N2million was also given to the young girl, who is presently a medical student at the University of Abuja, all courtesy of Ifeanyi Ubah, Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, in the National Assembly, the constituency where she hails from.
A palpably elated Ubah, announced the awards when he received Benson, and her parents in his office at the National Assembly on Monday, showering praises on her for the rare feat and her parents for their diligence in instilling the spirit of hard work and resilience in their daughter, adding that his contribution was to ensure that the young girl, achieved her dreams of getting the best of education, which would not only benefit the entire society but particularly, his constituency.
Ifebube, 18, a South African-born indigene of Ndikelionwu in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra state, who had put Anambra State on the glorious part once again by emerging OVERALL BEST FEMALE CANDIDATE in the examinatio with nine distinctions, including Mathematics, English language, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and three others, was first honoured in November last year in an elaborate ceremony at the NECO headquarters in Niger State.
Ubah, who was thrilled that such brilliant girl hailed from his Senatorial District, congratulated her and offered her a cash gift and a scholarship to pursue her dream of becoming a big scientist and a medical doctor abroad, while further appreciating her for her diligence, urged her to remain focused.
Suleiman Adegote, Chairman, Staff Productivity Award Committee, signed the letter, dated November 4, 2023, inviting the parents to the award ceremony where the girl would be decorated with a national award at Justice Legbo Kutigi Conference Centre, Minna, Niger State on December 6, 2023.
The letter read in full: “I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones in good health. I write on behalf of the Registrar/Chief Executive, National Examinations Council (NECO) to give you a formal invitation to receive an Award of Excellence for emerging as the Overall Best Female Candidate National in 2023 Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) Internal. Kindly accept our humble invitation to grace the ceremony with your physical presence. Congratulations.”
Ifebube, whose name translates, “beautiful thing to glamourise,” came back to Nigeria in 2022 to complete her secondary education at the Renaissance Garden Secondary School, Ago-Okota, Lagos, from where she took the NECO examination, to create the feat, which is coming alongside other beautiful stories of academic excellence by indigenes of Anambra State, nationally and internationally.
At the brief ceremony, Ben Benson-Okoli, father, accompanied by the wife Chinny, while hailing Ubah for honouring their daughter, also thanked Ifeanyi Nwankwo (Oloma Igbo) for facilitating the event and prayed for more grace and wisdom upon the Senator, his family and staff.
Also present at the event were Chigozie Gerald Udogu, Chief of Staff and Senior Legislative Aide to the Senator, and the Director-General of Ifeanyi Ubah Foundation, Chief Vin Onyeka.