Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
A non-governmental organisation, MSL Foundation, has awarded scholarship to 30 indigent undergraduates studying in various universities across the country.
The beneficiaries received a cheque of N120,000 each during the flag-off of the scholarship scheme in Abakaliki, the state capital.
The foundation noted that the scholarship was to enable students from Abakaliki Local Government Area to be literate, lamenting that the people lack education.
Handing over the cheques, founder of the foundation, Lebechi Mbam, described education as key to everything and urged the beneficiaries of the scholarship to make use of the opportunity for a better tomorrow.
Mbam, who is the current Ebonyi State Commissioner for Works, explained that he understook the scholarship because of the suffering he passed through to graduate after he lost his father.
He promised that the foundation will continue the programme for as long as possible and will in subsequent editions incoporate the other two local government areas in Izzi Clan.
He said: “The society is becoming tougher every day. When we look at the challenges we face in raising our children, I was motivated because my people lack this education.
“And the only way we can assist the world and live up to the expectation of the reason why God asked us to come and stay in this earth is to represent him and be an ambassador of Christ.
“And by that, he admonished us to love our brothers and sisters and that is the love that we have extended to indigenous people of Abakaliki especially the youth. The youth are for the tomorrow, but we have to lay a foundation today.
“This is the foundation we are laying now because I know that education is the key to everything we do. And as a youth, if based on the things that God has given to us, we extend the love and lay this foundation on the life of our youth and I know the implication.
“And having passed through some hurdles during my academic session, I lost my father when I was still in school and I know it is all by God’s grace. I didn’t enjoy this benefit, but God saw me through in that way.
“I felt it’s necessary that I should look to the less privileged who are willing to go to school, who don’t have the funds to pay for their tuition fees and this is what we do.”
Wife of the state governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, Chairman of the scholarship foundation, Mbam Ogodo, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ben Odo and Chairman of Abakaliki Local Government, Ebere Nwogba, commended Mbam for the scholarship.
They opined that the scholarship will reduce illiteracy in Abakaliki LG and urged the beneficiaries to make use of the opportunity and acquire education.
Mrs. Nwifuru represented by wife of Chief of Staff to the Governor, Professor Nkechiynyere Echiegu, warned that any of the beneficiaries who plays with his or her studies, would be removed from the scholarship scheme.
She lamented that Abakaliki Local Government was having low university enrollment and expressed the hope that the scholarship will change the situation.
One of the beneficiaries, John Okechukwu, who is studying Medicine and owing tuition fees, lauded the Commissioner for the scholarship.
He disclosed that he has gone through a lot looking for fund to clear his tuition fees and almost gave up until his name was listed as one of the beneficiaries.
He promised to judiciously utilise the opportunity to make Mbam proud, describing him as his savior.
