From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Commissioner for Works Lebechi Mbam has offered scholarships to 30 indigent undergraduates studying in various universities across the country.
Mbam offered the scholarships to the students through his MSL Foundation. The beneficiaries received a cheque of N120,000 each during the flag-off of the scholarship scheme in Abakaliki, the state capital.
He noted that the scholarship, which he said will continue as long as he lives, was to enable his Abakaliki local government people to become literate, lamenting that the people lack education.
He described education as key to everything and urged the beneficiaries of the scholarship to make use of the opportunity for a better tomorrow.
“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 where the reason why God asked us to come and stay on this earth is to represent him and be an ambassador of Christ.
“And by that, he demolished us to love our brothers and sisters. And that is the love that we have extended to the indigenous people of Abakaliki, especially the youth. The youth are for tomorrow, but we have to lay a foundation.
“This is the foundation we are laying now because I know that education is the key to everything we do. And if us, based on the things that God has given to us, extend the love and lay this foundation in the lives of our youth. Me being a youth, 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 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 down 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 Local Government and urged the beneficiaries to make use of the opportunity and acquire an education.
Mrs. Nwifuru, represented by the wife of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mrs. Nkechiynyere Echiegu, warned that any of the beneficiaries who play with their studies would be removed from the scholarship scheme.
She lamented that Abakaliki Local Government was experiencing low literacy 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 had gone through a lot looking for funds 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 saviour.