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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti has given 34 undergraduates of Abia origin and those resident in the state scholarship under his Foundation, the Alex Otti Foundation (AOF).
This is even as Governor Otti has increased the scholarship scheme’s fund from N150,000 to N250,000 per student, per session.
Otti who disclosed this in Umuahia during the 2022 -2023 Alex Otti scholarship banquet held in honour of the 34 undergraduates who received this year’s scholarship award, pledged to continue his support to beneficiaries to enable them to achieve their full potential.
He said the scholarship programme of the Alex Otti Foundation (AOF), was structured to target bright but indigent students of Abia origin or those resident in the state.
Otti informed that the scholarship scheme which started many years ago but was formalised seven years ago.
He disclosed that the scholarship scheme is modelled in such a way that beneficiaries do not need to know anyone to succeed; “but might be at the risk of not being selected if you know anybody.”
The Governor made it clear that the Foundation has no relationship with the Abia State government, stressing that there is a line between the Abia state finances and Alex Otti’s foundation.
He said the initiative was a way of investing in the future and charged beneficiaries not to disappoint but rather put in their best to excel so as to be beneficial to themselves and society at large.
Governor Otti commended the management committee of the scholarship scheme for their remaining objective to the vision of the foundation without compromise.
The deputy chief of staff to the Governor and immediate past executive secretary of the Foundation, Chinedu Ekeke said the selection process was transparent, adding that the scholarship scheme was just an arm of the AOF which has continued to empower the citizens.
The Chairman, Planning Committee and Head, Logistics, Maxell Umesi thanked Governor Otti for giving them the free hand to conduct the selection process transparently, adding that all beneficiaries were selected based on merit.
He informed that the Foundation has over the years produced about six first-class students from universities across the country.
Father of one of the benefiting undergraduates, Nwazue Ernest disclosed how he had planned to sell his two cars to raise money to send his child to school before the Alex Otti Foundation came to his rescue.
He expressed immense gratitude to God for using the AOF to lessen his burden.
He said with Otti’s increasing of the scholarship fund from N150,000 to N250,000 per person, per session, that the scholarship has indirectly been extended to his other children.
Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries one of the first class graduates produced by the Foundation, Kelvin Ikeoha thanked Governor Otti for giving them a future through the Foundation and pledged to also give back to the society.
The wife of the Governor, Priscilla, among others, attend the event.
