- Nwifuru approves UK studies for 98 Ebonyi scholars
- Programme targets Master’s and PhD degrees
- Governor urges scholars to return and serve Ebonyi
- Scholarship covers tuition, housing, and living costs
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has approved the departure of 98 Ebonyi scholars to the United Kingdom under the state’s overseas scholarship programme, urging them to excel academically and return home to contribute to the state’s development.
Governor Francis Nwifuru on Monday sent off the second batch of beneficiaries of the Ebonyi State scholarship programme to the UK, marking another step in the administration’s push for human capital development.
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The send-off ceremony took place at the Chuba Okadigbo International and Cargo Airport, Ezza, where prayers were offered for the scholars before their departure. The beneficiaries were selected under the second phase of the state’s overseas postgraduate scholarship scheme.
Speaking to the scholars, Nwifuru described them as his children and charged them to make the state proud through excellence and discipline.
“As a father, I release you today with love and prayer. As your governor, I send you forth with confidence and hope,” he said.
“I pray God to guide you, protect you in a foreign land, grant you excellence in your studies, and bring you back home safely and triumphantly.”
The governor explained that the scholarship initiative was inspired by his own life journey and his belief in inclusive leadership.
“I made a solemn decision to give you what I did not have. The opportunity I missed, I will create for others,” Nwifuru added.
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Oketa, it was disclosed that 92 of the 98 scholars will depart in batches within the week, while six others are scheduled to travel in September in line with their academic calendars.
Oketa noted that the programme builds on an earlier phase in which 204 Ebonyi indigenes were sponsored to pursue postgraduate studies in the UK, many of whom graduated with distinctions.
According to the state government, the Ebonyi scholarship programme fully covers tuition, accommodation, and living expenses, ensuring that beneficiaries focus entirely on their studies.
The administration reaffirmed that the initiative is part of a long-term plan to strengthen education, develop skilled manpower, and position Ebonyi State for sustainable growth.