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By Chekwube Nzomiwu
The value of education is unquantifiable. Anti-apartheid activist and first black President of the Republic of South Africa, Nelson Mandela (now late), famously called education “the most powerful weapon” to change the world, enabling the daughter of a peasant to become a doctor and a mine worker’s son to become the head of the mine.
Former US President, Barrack Obama, while also emphasizing the importance of education to this age, told those “who think that education is expensive, to wait until they see the costs of ignorance in the 21st century.” Obama used this aphorism in one of his captivating speeches in 2013, during his second term.
Back home in Nigeria, the Victor Umeh Foundation (VUMEF), cognizant of the role played by education in both personal and societal development, annually awards scholarships to undergraduate and postgraduate students of various Nigerian tertiary institutions. The foundation is powered by the senator representing Anambra Central senatorial district, Senator (Dr.) Victor Umeh, although its history predated his first appearance at the Senate in 2018.
Umeh introduced the foundation in 1999 and later formalised it in 2007, out of the need to assist those who were genuinely desirous to further their education but did not have the wherewithal to do so. When the Aguluzigbo-born politician arrived at the Senate for the first time in 2018, after reclaiming his stolen mandate from Iyom Uche Ekwunife, he established the Anambra Central Senatorial District Scholarship Scheme.
The first 76 beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme, comprising 10 students each from the seven local government areas of Anambra Central and six others selected based on special needs, all became graduates by 2023. Unlike the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) established by the Federal Government for students to take loans to study and repay, so that others can benefit, the VUMEF scholarship scheme operates free of charge.
Since inception, VUMEF has produced many graduates of different disciplines from Anambra State and beyond, including sister South-East states of Imo, Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu. The foundation churned out these graduates without beating the drums, purely on charitable grounds and devoid of any political undertones. No fewer than 33 of the VUMEF graduates have been assisted by Senator Umeh to get federal jobs.
In its 19-year lifespan so far, the foundation has touched the lives of many students in different ways. It has not only rescued many students who almost lost their admission as a result of their inability to pay school fees but also offered fresh opportunities to prospective students. No fewer than 2,320 students have benefited from the foundation since inception in 1999.
I will share the story of some of the beneficiaries here. Linda Nwokolo from Obosi in Idemili North LGA, under Anambra Central senatorial district , dropped out of medical school when she could no longer pay fees. Linda begged Senator Umeh’s Parish Priest to help her tell him that she dropped out of medical school. The Priest told her to go and see the senator.
Linda came to Umeh’s house and sent in a note, requesting for audience with him. Umeh, although a Roman Catholic, did not even ask Linda, an Anglican, her denomination, before ushering her in. He counselled and encouraged her, and asked her to return to school. Senator Umeh paid all her school fees, including tuition and accommodation, starting from that month. Very soon, she will graduate and become a medical doctor. Many other beneficiaries of VUMEF had similar stories.
Chisom Malachy Onuorah from Umuomaku, in Orumba South LGA, for instance, gained admission into Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka (UNIZIK) to study law, out of his lifetime ambition to be a lawyer. He made an excellent result in his first year. Unfortunately, in his second year, he lost his admission, owing to the inability of his father to continue paying his school fees. Frustrated, Onuorah approached Umeh’s media aide, Charles Obi, who promised to speak to his principal. The senator eventually became the young man’s saving grace.
Umeh directed his aide to bring Malachy. When Malachy came to Umeh’s house, he cried profusely. The senator consoled and counselled him, and told him not to worry, that he must achieve his dream of becoming a lawyer. Umeh advised Malachy to go and get another admission. Malachy got admission in Ebonyi State University (EBSU) and was placed on VUMEF scholarship.
Malachy performed excellently in his courses throughout the five-year duration he studied law in (EBSU), graduating with first class honours. Incidentally, he is not the senator’s constituent in Anambra Central but from Anambra South senatorial district, and so cannot even vote for his benefactor during the general election. This clearly buttresses the fact that the work of VUMEF has no political undertones.
Besides Malachy, another beneficiary of the foundation from Nanka, in Orumba North, Anambra South senatorial district, emerged as the best graduating medical student in the University of Port Harcourt. Another beneficiary, Nkeiruka Igwenagu, from Umuokpu Awka, was not initially lucky to be among the six children selected through balloting for Umeh’s scholarship when he went to campaign at Awka South in 2015. Out of disappointment, she cried so much and was taken away.
When Umeh saw the countenance of Nkeiruka, he said that they should add “cry cry” to the next list. She joyfully hugged Umeh and her tears of joy touched the Senator’s dress. Umeh told Nkeiruka that God has given her the opportunity. She got admission to study architecture at Federal Polytechnic Okoh, and obtained both Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND).
Nkeiruka later came to Umeh with a request to pursue a B.Sc in Architecture and it was granted. She went to the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC) for her B.Sc. and graduated with flying colours. Nkeiruka recently concluded her National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).
For this academic session (2025/2026), the foundation awarded scholarship to 326 students as Senator Umeh’s constituency project. The total sum of N64 million was paid to the 326 students, drawn from Anambra State and beyond, during a colourful ceremony held at Canaan House event centre Awka, organised by VUMEF. Dignitaries at the event included traditional rulers, the clergy, town union leaders and Umeh’s constituents, among them, former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.
Amid jubilation, the beneficiaries received instant credit alerts from two commercial banks at the venue of the ceremony. Addressing the beneficiaries who came with their parents and guardians, Senator Umeh said he chose education as his constituency project under the South-East zonal intervention programme of the Federal Government, because of its importance to the development of the nation. According to him, VUMEF took up education, owing to its primary aim of developing the youths to make them better and more useful members of the society, in order to build a better nation.
Umeh said: “Education is a basic need you must give a child. That is why we have taken education as the primary arm of developing the youths and the nation. When you empower the youths, you have empowered the nation.
“Education is the light that will illuminate darkness. People will be liberated from the shackles of poverty and ignorance. When you give education to youths, you are building a better society because an educated mind is a civilized mind. An educated mind cannot take to crime. He will continue to do things that are noble and good.”
Regarding the mode of selection of the latest 326 beneficiaries, all the communities in his senatorial district were asked to nominate two persons each for enrolment through the President Generals of the town unions, bringing the number to 116, before the Senator extended a hand to various stakeholders he found worthy, cutting across religious denominations, to nominate people. Others the Senator found worthy of help, were enrolled.
One of the beneficiaries, Ogochukwu Nnajidenwa of the Millenium School of Nursing Awka, Anambra State, who benefitted both last year and this year, announced at the venue that her first son was named “Victor” in appreciation of the Senator’s continuous support for the educational advancement of the youths. Her husband was equally a beneficiary last year.
At this juncture, it is important to note that since becoming a Senator, every time federal lawmakers get opportunity for zonal intervention programmes, Umeh dedicates his own to education and youth empowerment. For the current zonal intervention programmes, he chose Federal College of Education Ishiagu, Ebonyi State as his agency to apply for the scholarship fund.
In the budget, he put N80 million, but because of tax charged by the government on the money and other charges, the money reduced to N60 million. This money is yet to be released, as the 2025 budgeted has not been implemented by the federal government, but owing to the cry of the students, Umeh sourced N64 million from elsewhere to ensure that they joined their mates in various Nigerian tertiary institutions this academic session. Under his constituency projects also, several school buildings have been completed in his constituency, while others are ongoing.
In conclusion, I urge other senators and indeed, the entire Nigerian political class to emulate Umeh, by empowering the youths with education to make them become useful members of the society and beacon of hope for a better Nigeria.
• Dr. Nzomiwu, MNIPR, a commentator on national and international issues, writes via [email protected]
