By Agbo Amuche, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Lebechi Mbam has offered scholarship to 30 indigent undergraduates studying in various universities across the country.
Mbam offered the scholarship 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.
The commissioner noted that the scholarship which he said will continue as long as he lives, was to enable his Abakaliki local government people to be literate, saying that his people lack education.
He described education as key to everything and urged the beneficiaries of the scholarship to make use of the opportunity for better tomorrow.
According him "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 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 youths. The youths are for the 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, we extend the love and lay this foundation on the life of our youths. 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 hinted that the scholarship will reduce illiteracy in Abakaliki local government 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, Mrs.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 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 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 utilized the opportunity to make Mbam proud, describing him as his savior.
