By Jude Owuamanam
Founder and sponsor of Akanchawa Education Foundation, Chief Chris Ejikeme Onwuzurike, has awarded scholarship to 12 students of Abba Clan, Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State, in universities and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The award, which is an annual event, saw the Abba-born philanthropist increasing the number of students from 10 last year to 12 this year.
Also in keeping with his promise, Onwuzurike, , aka Akanchawa who is the Lord Mayor of Ekitiafaor Abba, increased the award amount from N100,000 to N200,000 per recipient.
Speaking at the award ceremony, which took place in his palatial country home in Oteke, Ekitiafor Abba, Onwuzurike, a US-based architect and businessman, said that he would not renege in his determination to see that brilliant students of Abba were not denied education because of finance.
He stated that he’s continuing with the legacy of his father, Late Chief Sabastine Onwuzurike, who ensured that all his children, both male and female, got the best of education.
He reminisced how his father had to sell his house, to ensure that his first daughter was not denied the benefits of education.
He said, “I am continuing the legacy led by my father with whose name I instituted the Sabastine Onwuzurike Foundation (SOF), which gave birth to this scholarship scheme and I promise that as a long as I live I will continue to do my best to sustain this legacy.”
Onwuzurike enjoined the students to see the award as a privilege and giving back to the society, saying that he expected them to use any privileged position they might occupy in the future to do same to people around them.
He said that he fulfilled his promise of increasing the award money because of the harsh economic realities and expressed optimism that the money will meet some of their basic needs. He also asked the students to contact him through the committee if they encountered any difficulties, promising to make their welfare his priority.
Chairman of the Akanchawa Education Foundation, Prof Frank Ojiako, admonished the students not to let their benefactor down but to endeavour to excel in their academic performance, noting that this would propel him to do more.
He reminded them that the scholarship is not automatic, but would be renewed based on their academic performances.
“If you have any genuine problem, let me know. We shall be able to assist you in any way we can,” he said.
A past winner, an international data analyst, Miss Esther Duru, recounted that but for the Akanchawa Education Foundation, she would not have been where she is. She enjoined the awardees to concentrate on their studies.
One of the awardees, Emmanuel Ezirike, spoke on behalf of other students. He noted: “I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for this scholarship. We are truly honoured and grateful to be recipients of this scholarship. Your generosity is a blessing that we will forever cherish, and I promise to work diligently, excel in my academics, and make you proud.
“We pray that God continues to bless and uplift the Akanchawa Foundation. May your efforts to empower others be richly rewarded, and may everyone involved in this noble cause experience abundant grace, favour, and success in all their endeavours. May your foundation grow from strength to strength, touching countless lives for generations to come.”
Chief Onwuzurike had earlier distributed palliatives to members of his community to celebrate the Christmas and New Year.