Young Lady Who Goes to Construction Site to Work For a Living Awarded With Full Scholarship by FG

Nigerian Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, has committed to the full tuition and accommodation of a 20-year-old, 200-level student of the University of Benin, Jennifer Efemonghe, whose picture and video went viral online after being spotted in a building construction site, where she carried sand in order to earn a living.

The minister made this known on Thursday, May 20, in a statement via a series of tweets by his special adviser on ICT and corporate relations, Oluwakemi Ann-Melody Areola, where he promised to award her with full scholarship.

Earlier, in an interview with BBC Pidgin, Jennifer revealed that she took up the menial job in order to fend for herself and help her parents to shoulder the burden of her education.  

She said she was initially embarrassed after being mocked by her friends, but got over it as she can never be ashamed of whatever brings legitimate income her way.

Dare said Efemonghe will be seen through the remaining years in the universities, adding that “both her tuition and accommodation bills” will be catered for. 

“The Minister has committed to paying both her tuition and accommodation bills till she leaves the institution in 3 years time”. 

“His only requests to the 20yr old are that she should be a good representative of the youth by achieving academic excellence”. 

“The Minister admonished her to no longer return to the menial labour cement carrying field job but face her studies with all passion,” part of the statement read.