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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Mayor of Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State, Hon. Anyanwu Obialor has admonished students in institutions of higher learning to shun cultism and drug abuse, but rather study hard to excel in their various fields.
Hon. Obialor gave the warning while addressing over 30 students of the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic (formerly Abia State Polytechnic), Aba who are beneficiaries of his Foundation, (the Ihie Foundation) scholarship programme.
While cautioning the beneficiaries against involvement in cultism and drug abuse, he advised them to study hard in order not to waste the opportunity provided by the scholarship.
“Avoid cultism, there should be total abstinence from drug abuse, so as not to waste the opportunity provided by the scholarship and detail your future”.
The Mayor said his Foundation initiated the scholarship programme to give youths in his area what he could not get doing his time.
Hon. Obialor said although he could not attend any tertiary institution to further his education during his days as a result of financial constraint, he never allowed the challenge to deter him from success in life.
“I may not have been a graduate myself, but I have decided to give what providence could not allow me to have in life to you people. Success is not written on faces, when one is challenged, he has to look for a way to overcome it and become successful.
“It was as a result of what I went through in life that made me vow it will not be so with any youth in my area who has the brain but lacks the financial capabilities to further his or her education”.
Hon. Obialor told the beneficiaries that success does not know any gender, stressing that no challenge in life will eclipse success.
The LG boss, who said the scholarship was going to be an annual exercise, assured the beneficiaries they were not going to stop at National Diploma, but will study up to Higher National Diploma level.
“This is the first phase of the scholarship exercise, it is going to be an annual event, and by December this year, another set will be selected to bring the number to 50 for the year 2026”.
Obialor disclosed that the nominations were done by the leaders of the communities where the candidates hail from, adding that it was strictly for indigent persons.
“The greatest appreciation the Foundation can get from you is when you study hard and excel in your various courses”.
Obialor, who said his Foundation was open for partnership, promised to soon launch a programme against drug abuse in the area.
One of the beneficiaries, Anyanwu Stanley, who said he left secondary school in 1994, but could not further his education because of financial constraint, expressed joy over his selection. He said his dream of becoming a graduate in life has been made possible through the scholarship.
Other beneficiaries who spoke, including Darlington Ugwuzor, Ahuruezenma Miracle, Sunday Ogechi, and Ikokwu Ihuoma all thanked Hon. Obialor’s Foundation for giving them the scholarship which they said has already started changing their lives.
