By Nwogha Ndubuisi Andy and Amuche Agbo
Over seventy five indigent students drawn from the three Local Government Areas of Izhi land under the scholarship programme of the senator representing Ebonyi North at the green chamber Senator Sam Egwu was on Monday smiled home with their school fees of the 2020/ 2021 academic year.
The fees were disbursed to the beneficiaries at the Grace Court Hotel and Suites in Abakaliki, the state capital.
Addressing the students, Senator Egwu said that education remains the highest form of empowerment any leader can give to his followers, noting that it is the best way that can lead one to achieving his dream.
The Senator who was the former governor of Ebonyi state noted that education has been his priority since his adminstration as a governor, stating that a lot of professors, doctorate degree holders, consultants were produced and scattered across all field of studies in Abakaliki blocs and the state at large.
He revealed that Ebonyians are the best brain in the whole world through his free and scholarship programmes and has lifted the state to the enviable height as such has boosted uncountable academic gurus.
He charged the beneficiaries to see themselves as future professors, consultants among others, charging them to shun indulging into act capable of jeopardizing their academic careers.
Senator Egwu further encouraged the students to seek the face of God first in all their dealings and admonished them to endeavor to carry others along.
Speaking, PDP chieftain Chief Boniface Ofoke, while administering his oath of allegiance thanked the Senator for his kind gesture, hinting that the development is a democracy in action.
He advised him not to relent in effort to making sure that an Izhi man becomes the governor of the state come 2023.
He, however, called on the students to be proactive in their studies to make the Senator proud, assuring the support of Izhi people in all his political endeavors at all times.
Also speaking, the chairman of the occasion Chief Peter Iteshi described the Senator as exemplary leader worthy of emulation, having distinguished himself in governance.
He appreciated wife of the Senator, Mrs. Eunice Ukamaka Egwu, whom he said is the pillar and brain behind the gesture.
He noted that Egwu philanthropic disposition to Izhi people in the area of education cannot be over emphasized, pledged that they would continue to support him in all his dealings.
He added that the students were given scholarship so that they could give to others and called on the beneficiaries to be of good conduct when graduated.
On his own part, the President General, Izhi Nnodo Youth Forum, Comrade Ben Nwovu represented by the Secretary of the forum, Comrade Raymond Okokpa, thanked Egwu for coming to the aid of the students and prayed God to replenish him abundantly while urging them not to bite the finger that fed them.
He lauded him and the students who have been in the streamline of the exercise since it started and charged them to use the opportunity judiciously as the benefactor is ready to take them to the highest academic qualification.
In their goodwill messages, the coordinator of Izhi women forum Dr. Mrs Clementina Douglas Ogbonna, the former Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Higher Education, Prof. Adaeze Nwuzor and the former Coordinator of Izhi Development Center, Hon. Patrick Anayo Mbam hinted that education is the best empowerment one can achieve in the society, describing Senator Egwu as God sent to Izhi people and Ebonyi state in general.
They called on the students to implore high level of professionalism in their academic pursuit to guarantee the purpose at which the exercise was meant for, adding that before 2023 the senator might have produced over three hundred graduates from the clan and vowed that entire izhi people would remain supportive to his political dreams.
In their vote of thanks, some of the students including Comrade Emeka Idenyi, Priscilla Mbam among others poured encomium to the senator and expressed gladness for coming to their aid.
They pledged to work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed on them by the Senator and as well to make him proud.