The Ojah Scholarship Foundation (OSF) is founded on belief in the transformative power of education. The Foundation is named in honour of Oja, born in 1939 in Oginibo, Delta State, Nigeria-an extraordinary woman who embodied wisdom and a stong commitment to learning.

 

Though she received no formal education herself, Oja was a passionate advocate for education and worked tirelessly to ensure that her two surviving children had access to basic schooling. ​

OSF also draws inspiration from the pivotal act of kindness in the mid-1960s that altered the course of  this family forever. During his service in Nigeria with the American Peace Corps, Mr. John Ellinger provided financial support for a university education to a brilliant young man, O.J. Foghi, who had lost his father and become the provider for his family. With this support, Foghi completed a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Benin, Edo State, an opportunity that reshaped his future.

 

The gratitude for this gift of education remains deeply ingrained in his heart and continues to be shared across generations. The Ojah Scholarship Foundation stands as a tribute to this selfless act and the enduring ripple effect of educational access.

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The Foundation is further shaped by the shared journey of its founders-two individuals raised in the Niger Delta community of DSC Ovwian-Aladja, who attended the same secondary school and later left home to pursue higher education and life beyond their roots. Though their paths ran parallel for years, they would eventually meet, build a life together, and unite around a common purpose.

Both carry a deep-seated passion for education, opportunity creation, and poverty eradication.

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OSF represents their collective vision of giving back—investing intentionally in young people from the Niger Delta by removing financial barriers, nurturing talent, and building pathways to sustainable futures. Through STEM-focused scholarships, mentorship, and community, the Foundation seeks not only to support individual scholars but also to contribute meaningfully to regional development and long-term social impact.

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The Ojah Scholarship Foundation is a private, nonprofit organisation domiciled in Nigeria and also registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). Grounded in legacy and driven by purpose, OSF exists to honour the past, empower the present, and shape the future, one scholar at a time.