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Senator Umeh awards scholarship to 223 Anambra Central students in tertiary institutions
By Charles Ifeanyi Obi
It was a moment of joy and tears at Canaan House, Awka on Thursday as Senator Dr. Victor Umeh OFR paid thirty seven million naira (37,000,000) the first year’s school fees (2023/2024 Academic Session) of the beneficiaries of the Anambra Central Scholarship Programme which he first introduced during his first term in Senate in 2018 and would be effective until the graduation of the beneficiaries.
This time, it was on a bigger scale, when Senator Umeh returned to the Senate in 2023, he prioritized Education by including Students’ scholarship as part of his Constituency projects thus, 223 brilliant but less privileged students were carefully selected from the 58 communities in Anambra Central through the instrumentality of the Town Unions, Clergymen and other Organizations managing vulnerable people.
Speaking during the Event, the Education-loving and Youth friendly Senator Umeh congratulated the lucky beneficiaries and charged them to maximize the opportunity in achieving their lifetime goals and potentials.
Encouraging them further, he shared inspiring stories of beneficiaries of his sole-funded Education Foundation which has been in existence for seventeen years, the Victor Umeh Education Foundation—VUMEF, stressing how some of them have transcended from their hopelessness to graduating top of their classes in their respective Tertiary Institutions and are also excelling in their respective professional careers.
He told the beneficiaries that in addition to their school fees, additional funds were provided to assist them in buying books and their other needs. He assured them of his commitment towards their academic successes stressing that next year’s edition would be enhanced.
The Senator emphasized the unquantifiable gains in sponsoring a child in school vis-à-vis human empowerment, noting that despite his not returning to the Senate in the 2019 Election, those who were enrolled in the 2018 edition of the Scholarship were absorbed into the VUMEF and have graduated, and doing very well in their vocations thus, they too (new entrants) can achieve their aspirations if they study well. He also urged them to shun vices predominant amongst students in order to become well trained future leaders: Senators, Governors, Presidents, as well as assets to their families and the society at large.
In their vote of thanks, some of the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to their benefactor for the humane gesture extended to them and for his inspiring cum encouraging words assuring him that they will not take for granted, all that he has done.
Moments of emotions were when a blind lady from Alor Town joyfully embraced Senator Umeh expressing the joy of her family for the scholarship given to her blind sister, Nwafor Angela, and when a pregnant lady and Nursing student by name: Nnajidenma Ogomegbunam Ugochukwu, recounted her ordeal in pursuit of her academic goals and in tears of joy, expressed her gratitude and that of her husband (who was also present) and that of her unborn child, to the man (Senator Umeh) who has redeemed their hope.
Another remarkable speech was by the Traditional Ruler of Akwaeze, HRH Igwe Christopher Okpala (Ezennebo Na Akwaeze) who mirrored the implications of Senator Victor Umeh’s scholarships and academic empowerment, pointing out that in the next ten years, every community in Anambra Central would have great number of graduates patriotically giving back to the society because of the generosity of Senator Victor Umeh their benefactor. He admonished the students to be their best in their respective schools and to follow the footprints of their benefactor in aspiring to excel in their endeavours and to also give help to those in need around them.
Other speakers at the Event were the Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo Anambra State chapter, Chief Emeka Udodeme (Odegba); the President General Nawfia, Chief Daniel Okoye (on behalf of Presidents General of Anambra Central Communities); the President of Awka Development Union of Nigeria (Women Wing), Barr. Mrs Oge Ekweozor (on behalf of Anambra Central Community Women Leaders) among others.
Highpoints of the Event include the appointment of Mr JohnMary Ejiofor as Senior Special Assistant to Senator Victor Umeh on Student Scholarships who will be working with the Chairman of VUMEF Board in organizing the activities of the Scheme. Also, the presentation of the thirty seven million naira (37,000,000) dummy cheque which is the total cost of the Scholarship for the 2023/2024 Academic Session and the jubilations the moment beneficiaries started getting bank credit alerts on their phones.
It is important to note that Senator Victor Umeh in his love for Education and knowledge of the importance of academic empowerment as a substantive means of human capacity development, eradication of poverty and crime control, founded the Victor Umeh Education Foundation (VUMEF) over seventeen years ago and since then, over 300 people have benefited from the Foundation including Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers etc. They also include those graduating from Masters and PhD programmes, and Priests/Clergies
This indeed is a fulfilment of promise!
Senator Victor Umeh is committed to fulfilling all his promises.
