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The founder and President of Rochas Foundation, former Governor of Imo, now Senator Rochas Okorocha will on 10th April 2021, Saturday be honoured with ‘The Outstanding Friend of Ibadanland’ Award by HRM Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji (Aje Ogungunniso I), the Olubadan of Ibadan land, and the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII),

In a notification letter to the Senator the award was in recognition of the former governor’s contribution to the education of indigent children through his foundation’s free education programme and establishment of tuition-free schools – Rochas Foundation Colleges in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The foundation has about 25,000 indigent children, in which Oyo State and other South-West state have 6,000 that have benefitted from the free education programme.

During the event and rounding it up will be the grand finale of the 2021 Ibadan Cultural Festival Celebrations at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan.

“We in Ibadan have decided to celebrate you now and outside your territory so as to show you that Ibadan has created a deserved permanent place for you in her territory. You are most deserving of this honour by virtue of your establishment of Rochas Foundation College first at Oke Ado Ibadan and very recently at the Toll Gate, Ibadan/Lagos Expressway.

“This unique youth empowerment legacy of yours will remain indelible in our minds till eternity. It is also a testimony to the fact that you have what it takes to reposition our great country.” reads the statement.

It will be recalled that over 20 years ago, Okorocha, who is also the Senator representing Imo West, established The Rochas Foundation was established more than twenty years ago with Colleges in Bauchi, Calabar, Enugu, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri, Sokoto, Yola and Zaria and in Ogboko, Imo state.

The foundation through the colleges offer free education for indigent children which is now available in 55 African countries up to university level.