By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Secretariat Complex of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council in Awka, was filled with joy on Friday as the League of Anambra Professionals (LAP) officially unveiled its maiden Future Forward Scholarship Programme and awarded a sum of One Million Naira (₦1,000,000) each as annual scholarship to 36 indigent but brilliant students drawn from across the three senatorial zones of the state.
The occasion, which was the first of its kind, attracted a distinguished gathering of professionals, journalists, parents, beneficiaries, stakeholders and members of the League. It also marked the formal launch of what was described as a transformative educational intervention aimed at empowering underprivileged Anambra students, irrespective of the locations of their schools.
In his address of welcome to kick off the occasion, the President of the League of Anambra Professionals and Managing Director of Odenigbo FM, Sir Nnamdi Obi, said the primary objective of the transformative initiative was to lift, support and empower indigent students to pursue their educational dreams, regardless of the financial limitations of their families. He commended the state government’s commitment to the education sector in the state, but acknowledged that the government cannot do it alone.
Sir Obi, who was represented by the Deputy President of LAP and Chairman of the Education Committee of the League, Dr. Elizabeth Ifeyinwa Jibunoh, traced the inspiration behind the initiative to a visit to the Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe.
According to Jibunoh, the idea was birthed after a thought-provoking question posed by the LAP President during the said visit where possibilities of collaboration were explored. She said the President, after asking the question, challenged the LAP Education Committee to find a way to create a structured support system for indigent students in Anambra State. She explained that although LAP has been involved in numerous impactful interventions over the years, including election monitoring, that single question ignited the vision that has now materialized as the LAP Future Forward Scholarship Initiative.
Speaking on the selection process for the beneficiaries, Dr. Jibunoh disclosed that over 300 qualified applications were received across the state, from which 12 outstanding students were selected from each of the three senatorial zones, making a total of 36 beneficiaries for this first edition. She added that with increased budgetary support, the number of beneficiaries would be significantly expanded in the future; even as she also hinted that the initiative was neither sponsored by government nor any private agency, but purely by LAP.
Giving an overview of the scholarship structure, she announced that the scholarship package covers full tuition, accommodation and monthly stipends, amounting to a total value of ₦1,000,000 per student annually. She added that in partnership with Fidelity Bank, all beneficiaries would open bank accounts through which their stipends would be managed, as part of efforts to instill financial literacy and responsible financial habits in them.
Dr. Jibunoh announced that beyond financial support, the League has also designed a mentorship and mind-shift programme as the second and most critical phase of the initiative, stressing that the scholars/beneficiaries would benefit from structured mentorship, skills development, internship opportunities and exposure to innovation, enterprise and global thinking, with the goal of producing well-rounded citizens and graduates who are globally competitive.
While recognizing and appreciating the efforts of all who contributed in one way or another to the success of the event, she also congratulated the beneficiaries as seeds being planted for Anambra’s future; further calling on institutions, partners and well-meaning Ndi Anambra to join hands with LAP in expanding the vision.
On his own part, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu PhD, commended the initiative and disclosed that the NUJ deliberately offered the hall to LAP at no cost because of the credibility and life-changing impact of the programme and its potentials to uplift the indigent, empower young people and transform lives.
Dr. Odogwu, who spoke through his Personal Assistant, Ukpa Ewa, revealed that the hall ordinarily costs between ₦1.5 million and ₦3 million to use, noting that the NUJ only opens the facility for credible and impactful events, which he said the LAP scholarship programme truly represents. He noted that once an event holds in the NUJ Secretariat, it is assumed to be an NUJ event, hence the decision not to formally deploy journalists for coverage, especially as one of their members, Comrade Kasie Abone, was already part of the organizing team.
While commending LAP for its vision, commitment and investment in human capital development, the NUJ Chairman also expressed confidence that the scholarship initiative would expand across the state to accommodate more indigent students, transform countless lives, and ensure that no deserving student is left behind.
Also speaking, Dr. Ngozi Achike, who flew in from Maryland, United States of America, expressed appreciation to the parents for coming with their children and hailed the thorough vetting process of the beneficiaries, which she described as a spectacle that reflected seriousness and transparency.
She lamented that despite the presence of wealth in Anambra State, many affluent individuals neglect the responsibility of sponsoring indigent students, stressing that though some students are intellectually gifted, they lack the financial means to further their education. She described the initiative as a powerful statement of impact and urged the beneficiaries to recognize their worth, ask questions where necessary, build confidence and strive to become well-rounded individuals.
Dr. Achike, a scholar further advised the students to allow the university experience to pass through them as much as they pass through it, noting that confidence, character and clarity of purpose are essential for success in life.
“You must also remain curious, embrace confidence, and become well-rounded individuals who would represent themselves and the state with excellence,” he advised.
In their separate reactions, some of the beneficiaries, Victory Ndibuisi and Chioma Ekwueme, expressed gratitude to the League of Anambra Professionals for the rare opportunity, describing the scholarship as a life-changing intervention that has lifted an enormous burden off their families while igniting renewed determination to excel academically.
Contributing, a parent of one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Egbosiuba Chioma, thanked the League for remembering indigent families, praying that God would replenish the League abundantly even as she promised that her ward would justify the confidence and investment reposed in him.
In a vote of thanks and closing remarks, the Assistant Publicity Secretary of LAP, Comrade Kasie Abone, who also doubles as a member of the LAP Education Committee and Facilitator of the event, charged the beneficiaries not to take the scholarship for granted or misuse the opportunity through poor academic performance, misconduct or reckless living.
She warned that any beneficiary who fails to make good grades, joins cultism, gallivants or brings disrepute to the League risks being dropped from the programme, stressing that the scholarship was not meant to fund reckless lifestyles but to empower discipline, excellence and purpose.
She further stated that the League would monitor the progress and conduct of all beneficiaries closely, emphasizing that both the scholars and their parents would be held accountable for the effective use of the scholarship. She noted that the goal of the League was not just to sponsor students but to raise future leaders and global ambassadors from Anambra State.
Comrade Abone thanked the LAP leadership for their sacrifices; even as she also appreciated journalists for the massive publicity given to the programme, and reserved special thanks for the Anambra NUJ Chairman for the Union’s support.
Also graced by the Administrative Secretary of LAP, Buchi Ochuba, a member of the League, Madam Destiny Madu, and parents of the beneficiaries, the occasion was climaxed by the official presentation of dummy cheques to the beneficiaries amid resounding cheers and heartwarming celebration.
More photos from the event:
