IKPEAZU’S SCHOLARSHIP FIESTA; BUILDING THE ABIA OF TOMORROW THROUGH QUALITY EDUCATION.
Education is construed as an essential ingredient to building a more sustainable future. Any government investment in education reflects a belief and commitment to build a better future through qualitative education studies. For instance, it is through education that the next generation of citizens, voters, workers, professionals and leaders are prepared for the life-long learning. Indeed, for many of its advocates, education is best understood as a journey, rather than a destination.
Just recently, the Abia State Government, ably led by the education-friendly Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Australian Universities, the University of New England and University of Newcastle, to provide scholarship for Abia State indigenes for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The scholarship is for a minimum of 100 candidates per year through out the duration of his administration.
The first phase of the beneficiaries of the scholarship was flagged off on Monday, October 7, 2019 while they will commence their academic journey by January, 2020. The programme, no doubt, will have a far-reaching significance in education sector as well as add value to the overall development of Abia State.
In the words of the Governor himself, “the essence of governance is to create linkages and direct opportunities for young people to aspire to the best of their abilities”. Such linkages, as this scholarship has opened, will spur our young ones to explore and actualize their dreams of acquiring a better and quality education from among the best universities in the world.
Capacity building is another important component that this scholarship has created for the benefitting candidates as it will prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century. Through improving their education standard and the knowledge that goes with it, they will be in the best position to drive growth and development, not only in the Abia State civil service but also in Nigeria at large. Let’s recall that most beneficiaries of the postgraduate programmes are Abia State civil servants.
It is also worthy to note here that by this scholarship, Dr. Ikpeazu has given opportunity for brilliant but indigent students to realize their educational aspirations. Suffice it to say that most brilliant students are looking for opportunities like this to educate themselves but do not have the financial strength to do so, hence, the Governor’s magnanimity in this regard has given them hope.
Furthermore, this scholarship will also provide avenue for Abians to fill some gaps that exist in so many academic fields where hitherto we do not have qualified personnels and/or enough of them. These scholars will, on their return and with the knowledge acquired, train other Abians nay Nigerians and as such make up for the inadequacy in those areas.
There is no surprise in all these achievements of the Governor in the education sector for those who have keenly followed the administration of Dr. Ikpeazu, knowing his prowess in the education sector since assuming office. Having identified education as a key pillar in his development of Abia State, the Governor has continued to score brilliant goals in the sector.
We can therefore commend the education-friendly Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who himself is a scholar of repute for this well-thought out programme to not only empower Abia people intellectually but also to give hope to many of them who never have the hope of actualizing their academic pursuit.
Ubani Newman Ubani,
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor,
(New Media & Publicity)
11/10/2019