*Hails Governor Nwifuru
By Victor Nwegede
The member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, has said that Ebonyi State is currently ranking first in scholarship awards in Nigeria, following the massive investment in education by Governor Francis Nwifuru.
Ogah stated this while reacting to the ongoing foreign and local scholarship programmes initiated by the Ebonyi State Government, describing the governor as a visionary and people-oriented leader committed to human capital development.
He lauded Governor Nwifuru for approving scholarships for hundreds of Ebonyi students to study both within and outside the country, noting that the initiative has placed the state ahead of others in educational development.
According to him, 92 beneficiaries in the second batch of the state government scholarship scheme were airlifted to the United Kingdom earlier this week to pursue various postgraduate programmes in different universities across the European country.
He recalled that in 2024, about 300 Ebonyi students were sent to top universities in the United Kingdom under the first batch of the programme to study for Master’s and Ph.D degrees, fully sponsored by the state government through its scholarship board.
Ogah described the governor’s commitment to education as a solid foundation that would transform the educational landscape of the state and produce long-term benefits across all sectors.
“Governor Francis Nwifuru has shown uncommon commitment to investing in human capital. His passion for education has distinguished him from many leaders.
"These scholarships will trigger a positive chain reaction in the education sector and beyond,” he said.
The lawmaker further commended the governor for laying strong legacies in infrastructure, civil service reforms, health, education and overall governance, adding that his policies and programmes are clearly people-oriented.
Ogah prayed for divine wisdom for the governor to continue impacting lives and driving sustainable development in the state, expressing confidence that his leadership style would earn him widespread support among the people.
He also advised beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme to remain focused on their studies and conduct themselves in a manner that would bring pride to the state, their families and the government.
“They must avoid anything that will bring disrepute to Ebonyi State and ensure they justify the confidence reposed in them by the government,” Ogah added.
