Blind student, 59 others win Abia ex-governor’s scholarship prize

A blind second year student of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Mr. Ifeanyi Frank Moama was among the 60 second batch beneficiaries of Senator Theodore Orji’s annual tertiary education scholarship scheme for his Abia Central Senatorial constituents.

The beneficiaries were given N100, 000 cheque each at the ex-governor’s constituency office in Umuahia, the state capital.

Chairman of the Scheme Committee and former Local Government Affairs Commissioner in the state, Emma Nwabuko, in his address at the cheque disbursement ceremony, explained that the applications for the award were open to interested undergraduates of the senatorial zone comprising six Local Government Areas(LGAs) who filed their applications online through applications forms accessible from the Senator’s website.

He also directed future applicants to file applications at appropriate time each year adding that his Committee meets to consider, shortlist and interview applicants whose applications were filed online.

Impressed by the online mode of application, the state governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu in his address directed the state Scholarship Board to liaise with the Committee for the purpose of adopting the online mode of application to select state scholarship beneficiaries.

The governor also directed that 10 young persons in each of the state 17 LGAs will through the online application, be selected for the state scholarship award every year which must include the physically challenged.

He urged the Senator Orji scholarship beneficiaries to justify the award by excelling in their studies and lauded the Senator for endowing the scheme.

Senator Orji who disclosed he was motivated into introducing the scholarship scheme that would subsist as long as he remains a Senator, said: “I wanted something that would be indelible and education came to my mind. Education is what made me and would impact positively on the beneficiaries and enable them to be something in life.

“The first batch of 60 beneficiaries emerged last year and got their cheques. In the four years am in the Senate, not less than 240 would benefit. What the beneficiaries owe me is excelling in their studies. Application for award is open to my constituents, no discrimination by sex, religion or political party affiliation and I shall continue to fund this until I vacate from the Senate.”