Ben Ezechime, Enugu
No fewer than 10 indigent students from Enugwu Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra State, have been placed on Scholarship Scheme to University and Polytechnics by EzeNdigbo Foundation.
Dr. Onyeka Ifekandu, founder of the foundation said the scheme would cost the foundation N5 million in the first instance.
Ifekandu disclosed made this known to Journalists in Enugwu-Ukwu at the unveiling of the scheme which attracted some members of the community, who came to witness inauguration of the foundation.
He said that the scholarship scheme which would run for five consecutive years, was aimed at assisting those whose parents could not afford their school tuition fee.
The occasion tagged: “Inauguration of Ezendigbo foundation and disbursement of financial academic support to 10 selected students,” saw each of the beneficiary receiving between N40, 000 to N50,000 revolving scholarship scheme.
Ifekandu said that the foundation was designed to be a tool to touch lives of indigent people in the community as his social corporate responsibility.
He disclosed that the foundation was founded in 2021 at Lagos Island in Lagos state but he decided to come home to inaugurate it for more visible activities.
He said: “Charity they say begins at home; so, I am home to officially start all programs I have lined up under this foundation which includes educational support.
“Entrepreneurial support amongst other related human development skills are part of the programmes, everybody must not go to university; so, we will help according to the wishes of the people.”
According to him: “I lost my dad at early age and as such did not achieve a sound educational career with my age mates.
“I single-handedly at age 15, financed my primary and secondary education to Ordinary National Diploma level at Lagos State Polytechnic.
“It is my special joy and sincere desire to encourage indigent youths in my community who want to study to so do because I appreciate the gains of education,” Ifekandu said.
“I have been in Lagos over 30 years doing my legitimate business, I assist my Igbo people and even non-Igbo in Lagos Island which earned me the title Ezendigbo in Lagos Island where my business is sited.
“I render financial help, give loans to those in financial problem and even provide free legal aids to those who could not finance their legal cases once threatened by any person in Lagos Island,” he said.
The philanthropist said, he had been rendering help to the poor for over five years now because having come from a very poor background gives an idea what struggling people go through daily.
“So, having come from a poor family background, I resolved to assist people in need. This scholarship scheme is for five years and then another 10 students will come on board.
“My two children are undergraduates at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, I want them to be in public University or Polytechnics so as to have real life experience.
“I can afford to put them in a private or missionary schools where millions of naira will be paid as tuition fee and true life struggles will be kept away from them, if I die today, I am sure they will handle life well.
“My children are in Federal University, those ten on my scholarship scheme are in Federal government universities or Polytechnics that show them equality of men,” he said.
The Ezendigbo said the foundation would also float a transport scheme for people who want to be drivers within the state as the vehicles are down and will be managed by his foundation’s coordinator, Mr Anthony Icheke.
He said that the commercial motor business was part of the revolving arrangements where what is generated will be put in the service of the scheme for expansion to accommodate other interested persons.
Icheke, the coordinator of the foundation said that all plans were being done to ensure optimal operation of the foundation activities in the community.
He said that if the pilot group performs creditably the team may increase the educational support money to N10 million with time to the benefiting indigent students.
Chief Andrew Obidike who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries commended Ifekandu for his thought of building up the youths in the community and advised the students to make good use of the opportunity.
