By Oswald Agwu, Abakaliki
EBONYI, Nigeria – Two hundred and four, out of the three hundred beneficiaries of Ebonyi state sponsored foreign scholarship programmes for postgraduate studies have been airlifted to the United Kingdom.
The airlift followed the official flag-off of the scheme performed Saturday by Governor Francis Nwifuru at the Chuba Okadogbo International Airport, Onueke , Ebonyi State.
The flag-off signified the official inauguration of the Scholarship scheme for both foreign and domestic beneficiaries targeting 1000 Ebonyi youths.
Already, 541 local scholarship beneficiaries had commenced their studies in various universities across Nigeria while the remaining 96 other beneficiaries of foreign scholarships would be joining their counterparts by February.
Speaking during the event, Governor Nwifuru admonished the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the state in the foreign land and show diligence and dedication in their studies.
He charged them to be focused, avoid negative influences while realizing that they are indebted to the state, their communities and families.
Nwifuru said: “It is with great joy and pride that I stand before you the finest people of our great state to Flagg-off this historic initiative, our scholarship scheme, a bold step towards equipping our youths with the skill, knowledge and global perspective necessary to drive the development of our beloved State.
“Today, we celebrate not only an investment in education but investment in the future of our dearest state.
“This is a demonstration of our interest in human capital development which occupies the centre stage in our government.”
The Governor who congratulated the beneficiaries for their brilliance and immense potentials which gained them the scholarship, said the scheme is a testament to the unwavering commitment of his administration to rise above rhetorics to practical governance in line with the People’s Charter of Needs agenda.
He paid tribute to the first Executive Governor of the State, Senator Sam Egwu for laying a strong educational and manpower development foundation which his administration has taken up with the scheme, to rewrite the history of the State as it concerns educational backwardness.
The Governor indicated that much more persons in the state would continue to benefit from the programme within the lifetime of his administration, and assured beneficiaries that they would be absorbed on completion of their programmes into the two ongoing Universities of ICT and Aeronautic Technology as well as other very important sectors in the state.
He added: “As you embark on this transformative journey to world class academic institutions abroad and across Nigeria, let me remind you our great future leaders, of the immense responsibility that comes with this great privilege.
“You are not just a student, you are an ambassador of our great State.
“Your actions, your words and your achievements will reflect not only in you but on our collective identify as Ebonyi people.”
Others who spoke at the event including a former Deputy Governor, Chigozie Ogbu, Franklin Ogbuewu and the All Progressives Congress State chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha, applauded the Governor for the initiative, stressing that posterity will ever remember him.
They admonished beneficiaries to take full advantage of the privilege so that they may benefit others in future and repay the state for the rate opportunity.
Some of the beneficiaries including, Christian Nkwede and Emmanuel Nwachukwu from Izzi and Onicha local government areas respectively, expressed their joy over the gesture.
They thanked the Governor immensely for the gesture, promising to conduct themselves properly in the foreign land as well as come back to benefit the state in their various capacities.
