Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, on Monday, ceremonially sent off the second cohort of beneficiaries under the state government’s overseas postgraduate scholarship programme, as they embark on further studies in the United Kingdom.
The event took place at the Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Ezza South Local Government Area, where 98 Ebonyians selected for advanced degree programmes abroad were formally inaugurated before departure.
In a statement issued earlier in the day by the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Oketa, the government described the flag-off as “another historic milestone in the educational advancement of Ebonyi State.”
Standing before the departing scholars, Governor Nwifuru delivered a heartfelt charge, referring to each beneficiary as one of his own.
“As a father, I release you today with love and prayer. As your Governor, I send you forth with confidence and hope. I pray to God to guide you on your journey, protect you in a foreign land, grant you excellence in your study, and bring you back home safely and triumphantly.”
He urged the scholars to strive for academic excellence and to return to Ebonyi equipped to make meaningful contributions to the State’s development.
Reflecting on the origins of the scholarship initiative, Nwifuru said it was borne of personal experience and a deep commitment to inclusive leadership.
“I made a solemn decision to give you what I did not have. The opportunity I missed, I will create for others. Where my journey was rough, yours should be smoother. That is the true meaning of leadership and the true essence of fatherhood,” he said.
Mr Oketa added that of the 98 beneficiaries, 92 are scheduled to depart in staggered batches this week, while six will travel later in September, in line with the commencement of their academic programmes overseas.
The statement noted that this cohort builds on last year’s landmark phase, when Governor Nwifuru sponsored 204 Ebonyi indigenes to pursue Master’s and PhD degrees in the United Kingdom.
Oketa further stated that many of the first–batch scholars completed their studies with distinction and academic excellence, a testament to the initiative’s impact.
The scholarship package, he said, covers tuition, accommodation and living allowances, creating an enabling environment for scholars to excel without undue distraction.
“This initiative is not a one-off intervention but a structured roadmap for building a knowledgeable, competitive and globally attuned Ebonyi State,” the statement said, underscoring the government’s long-term strategy to strengthen human capital and position the state for sustainable socio-economic development.
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