By Mike Nnebife
No fewer than 100 students of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State, have been awarded scholarships for the study of degrees and Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes. While 34 students won the Federal Government Education Bursary Awards worth N300, 000 per student in each session, 55 others were sponsored for a three-year NCE programme by the Chairman, Orumba South Local Government Area, Hon Shedrack Azubuike, through the Nwabugo Empowerment Foundation.
Also, seven students of the College benefitted from the scholarship scheme of the Chief Executive Officer of Seahorse Lubricants, Chief Chukwuebuka Onunkwo, who awarded scholarships totalling N10 million to 50 indigent students in Anambra State, with each student receiving N200, 000.
Another student of the College, Miss Nnabuife Blessing Chimuanya, a 300-level NCE student of English/Social Studies, won a presidential prize of N200, 000 in recognition of her outstanding academic performance.
A certificate of academic excellence signed by Hon Asefon Sunday, Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Students’ Engagement was presented to Nnabuife to celebrate her impressive academic record as part of the last International Students Day Celebration.
In a related development, the immediate past Head of Department, Accounting Education, Dr Chioma Ikeanyionu, awarded a scholarship to Udoye Nzubechukwu Paschaline, an NCE 2 student of Accounting Education.
A similar gesture was taken by the teaching and non-teaching staff of the School of Agriculture and Home Economics Education under the leadership of the former Dean, Dr Chijioke Uneze, when they awarded scholarships to 28 students to study NCE programmes in the College.
The Provost, Prof Theresa Obumnene Okoli, said the College under her leadership, keyed into the policy framework of the present administration to improve access to tertiary education for all Nigerians.
She said the Management set up an Endowment Committee with the Deputy Provost, Dr ThankGod Nzeribe, as Chairman, to appeal to philanthropists, non-governmental organisations, corporate bodies and kind-hearted individuals, to institute scholarships for indigent students willing to study in the College. The Committee, had both the College Registrar, Dr B.C. Nkah and the Librarian, Dr Agada Samson Arome, as members.
The Provost thanked the Federal Government for the Education Bursary awards, describing it as a lifeline for students and their parents. She promised that the College Management would always provide a favourable academic environment for excellence to thrive. She also commended the Chairman of Orumba South Local Government, Hon Azubuike, for sponsoring 55 students to study NCE programmes in the College.
According to her, NCE graduates played fundamental roles at the post primary school level, rendering their services in both public and private-owned schools.
She also lauded Chief Onunkwo for giving a lifeline to 50 students drawn from different tertiary institutions in Anambra State, noting that such investment in human resource development would reduce unemployment and criminality among youths in the state.
The Provost further appealed to other philanthropists, corporate organisations, religious bodies and alumni associations in the state and beyond to take up the challenge of sponsoring students for both the degree and NCE programmes in the College.
‘Many students from poor families are willing to go to school. In spite of the low cost of studies in federal institutions, some parents find it difficult to cope. I believe that identifying vulnerable families and awarding scholarships to those brilliant but indigent students would prepare them for a better future,’ she explained.
