By Emmanuel Agbo, Abakaliki
The Deputy Leader of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly and member representing Abakaliki South Constituency, Rt. Hon. Deacon Joseph Ununu, has paid the school fees of several university undergraduates under his scholarship scheme and empowered over 100 widows and vulnerable persons with cash and food items.
The empowerment exercise took place during a Christmas and New Year party organised by the lawmaker for his constituents at his residence in Centenary City, Abakaliki.
At the event, Rt. Hon. Ununu also donated undisclosed sums of money, a fat cow and over 500 bags of rice to members of the constituency, while beneficiaries received additional items including wrappers and 10kg bags of rice.
Speaking at the event, the lawmaker said the gesture was aimed at appreciating the unwavering support and solidarity of his constituents since his first tenure in office.
He assured them of his commitment to continuously delivering dividends of democracy.
Ununu expressed deep appreciation to the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru, and his wife, Chief (Mrs.) Mary Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, for providing an enabling environment for lawmakers to thrive and effectively serve their people.
He urged constituents to participate actively in the ongoing APC membership card and Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) registration exercise, noting that such participation would enable them to re-elect Governor Nwifuru and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Addressing the scholarship beneficiaries, the Deputy Leader charged them to take their studies seriously and strive for academic excellence, expressing optimism that they would graduate with first-class honours.
He reaffirmed his readiness to continue paying their full school fees until graduation.
The National APC Treasurer, Mr. Matthew Uguru, commended Ununu for what he described as quality and people-oriented leadership, saying the lawmaker’s generosity should be the priority of every politician.
“When you touch the lives of the people who voted for you, they will always be happy to vote for you again,” Uguru said, adding that the lawmaker’s actions should serve as a model for other political office holders.
He called on constituents to continue supporting the policies and programmes of Governor Nwifuru.
The Executive Chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Area, Hon. Stephen Ebere Nwogba, thanked God for the success of the event and praised the lawmaker for putting smiles on the faces of widows and less-privileged persons. He prayed for greater heights for Ununu in his political career.
Similarly, the Chairman-designate of Abakaliki Local Government Area, Hon. Chidiebere Alo, described the lawmaker’s philanthropic gestures as “democracy in action,” noting that Ununu had consistently protected the interests of his constituents.
Some scholarship beneficiaries, including Benjamin Akpegu and Ugbo Rita, expressed gratitude to the lawmaker for his support and pledged to justify the confidence reposed in them through academic excellence.
