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A group, Salvation and Service, has commended Senator Victor Umeh for, over the years, investing heavily in the education of his constituents in various tertiary institutions across the country.
The group said it was impressed that, even after leaving the Senate, where he represented Anambra Central Senatorial District, Umeh has not relented in offering succour to indigent students and empowering the youths.
Many indigent students in secondary school, as well as undergraduates and postgraduates have enjoyed scholarships from the Victor Umeh Education Foundation (VUMEF), set up in 2007 long before he became a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In 2018, over 70 students from poor backgrounds chosen from the seven local government areas (LGAs) in Anambra Central received scholarships to study at any university of their choice.
Umeh did not fail in his pledge to continue to lend a helping hand to his people, even after leaving the Red Chamber in June 2019. Unlike some politicians who would abandon the people in anger when they lose election, the Anambra Central Labour Party senatorial candidate in the upcoming February 25, 2023, election has continued to offer service to humanity with a greater commitment towards youth empowerment.
In a statement by its director of communication and strategy, Prince Uche Alokwe, the group said: “No doubt, Umeh is a special gift. He recognises the importance of education and that is why he is investing heavily in education. Through his foundation, scores of youths have been educated, even to the highest level.
“Umeh is putting food on the tables of many families through his empowerment programmes. He has taken many young people off the streets through his skills acquisition schemes and empowerment programmes. He is the kind of man you would want to have as father, uncle and brother. He is a blessing to many people.”
Similarly, renowned engineer, Benjamin Ezeagwu, has described Umeh as a titan of Anambra State, a man among men. According to him, Umeh is a rare breed and defender of the defenceless.
Ezeagwu said people like Umeh were needed at the National Assembly to speak for the people in times like these when robust representation is needed.
He said: “Umeh is a very strong voice, a voice you can trust. Umeh at the Senate means that equity and justice are guaranteed.
“Umeh is a reliable shoulder you can lean on. He speaks truth to power, he speaks for the masses and his position on any issue is always clear. He is called Ohamadike because everybody knows a great man.
“When the five engineers from Nelan Engineering, Enugu, went missing in Ebonyi State, Umeh was the only politician from the South East who went outside his comfort zone to fight for the true information of what happened and confronted the Ebonyi State politicians and leaders of thought for answers.”
Ezeagwu further commended Umeh for his “commitment to human capital development.” According to him, Umeh “set up a fund for the education of the underprivileged, both in formal and informal institutions. He has been a great player in the now popular Igbo apprenticeship where he has fixed a lot of children who have shown interest in entrepreneurship with mentors and those who have aptitude for trades, like carpentry, welding and others.
“Umeh singlehandedly renovated all the classroom blocks at his alma matter in Adazi and the primary schools in Agulu-Uzoigbo, his hometown. When the primary and secondary schools in Anaocha LGA, where he comes from, ran short of trained teachers, he re-engaged trained and capable teachers who had retired on his own and paid their salaries to expose schoolchildren to better, quality learning.
“In the church, Ohamadike, as he is known, has been a great pillar carrying a lot of issues in the church on his shoulders, hence, the Pope gave him special recognition as a Papal Knight.
“During his time in the Senate, Umeh showed his mettle; he put up the best representation the South East had witnessed. He shows great concern in anything that concerns the South East in particular and mankind in general.”
Meanwhile, Umeh has reiterated his commitment to offering scholarship to indigent students. He said: “I have continued doing all that I was known for, whether in the Senate or not. I have been in the forefront of fighting for the rights of our people. The great things I was doing for my people, I have continued to do them.
“My scholarship schemes are still running, producing graduates in various fields. In 2018, I gave, for a start, 76 university scholarships to students from Anambra Central Senatorial District from less-privileged homes. This is the fourth year and 25 of them have graduated. The remaining ones will graduate at the end of this academic session.
“I have paid all their fees despite not being in the Senate. This is in addition to over 300 students I have on my scholarship in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
“If I win the forthcoming election, the 10th Senate will know that somebody who stayed for only 17 months in the 8th Senate, will do something that all Nigerians will appreciate in terms of allocations for infrastructural development, appointment at all levels and anything government is expected to do for the people.
“I will help to fashion a new Nigeria in the process of lawmaking. In the 8th Senate, I was chairman of Labour Committee that fashioned out the new minimum wage bill and coming to Labour Party, therefore, has brought me to a familiar terrain.”
