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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
The League of Anambra Professionals (LAP) has unveiled its maiden Future Forward Scholarship programme, awarding a total of N36 million as annual scholarships to 36 indigent but brilliant students drawn from across Anambra State.
The official unveiling took place, yesterday, at the Secretariat Complex of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, Awka, amid excitement and commendation from education stakeholders, professionals, journalists, parents, and beneficiaries.
Each beneficiary, selected from the three senatorial zones of the state, will receive N1 million annually, covering tuition, accommodation, and monthly stipends, under what LAP described as a strategic intervention in human capital development.
Speaking at the event, the President, League of Anambra Professionals and Managing Director of Odenigbo FM, Sir Nnamdi Obi, said the initiative was designed to support and empower indigent students with outstanding academic potential, irrespective of their background or school location.
He noted that while the Anambra State Government has made commendable investments in education, collective efforts remain necessary to bridge existing gaps.
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Sir Obi, represented by the Deputy President of LAP and Chairman of the Education Committee, Dr. Elizabeth Ifeyinwa Jibunoh, traced the inspiration for the scholarship to a visit by the League to the Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, during which the need for structured educational support for indigent students was highlighted.
Dr. Jibunoh disclosed that over 300 applications were received from across the state, from which 12 students were selected from each senatorial zone, making 36 beneficiaries for the first edition. She emphasised that the programme is fully funded by LAP members without government or private sector sponsorship.
She further revealed that the initiative goes beyond financial support, incorporating a mentorship and mindset development programme, aimed at exposing beneficiaries to leadership training, skills acquisition, internships, innovation, and enterprise, with the objective of producing globally competitive graduates.
Commending the initiative, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Anambra State Council, Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, said the Union offered its hall free of charge, in recognition of the credibility and life-changing potential of the programme. He described the scholarship as a worthy investment in the future of Anambra State.
Delivering a charge to the beneficiaries, the Assistant Publicity Secretary of LAP and member of the Education Committee, Kasie Abone, warned that the scholarship would be withdrawn from any beneficiary involved in poor academic performance, misconduct, cultism, or actions capable of bringing disrepute to the League.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Victory Ndubuisi and Chioma Ekwueme, described the scholarship as life-changing, while parents expressed gratitude to LAP for remembering indigent families.
