By Ivy Lawson
In a commendable move to support education in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), the newly elected Chairman, Hon. Prince Isaac Umejuru has officially launched the first batch of bursary payments for students, fulfilling a key campaign promise just weeks into his administration.
Commencing on Monday, October 21, 2024, the bursary program will initially benefit 500 students, with each receiving ₦50,000.
This initiative is part of a larger plan to assist 2,000 beneficiaries verified by the former ONELGA Caretaker Chairman, Pastor Princewill Ejekwe.
The bursary payments, which have not been made in the last 17 years, mark a pivotal return to educational support for undergraduate students in ONELGA. The next batch of beneficiaries is expected to be announced in two weeks, with a verification process for postgraduate students scheduled to begin at the end of October.
Comr. Tina Bright Odukwu, Special Adviser on Students’ Affairs to the Executive Chairman, while expressing appreciation for Hon. Umejuru’s swift action highlighted the administration’s commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for young people in the area.
“This gesture not only fulfills a promise made during the campaign but also demonstrates our dedication to supporting the educational journey of ONELGA students,” Odukwu stated.
The people of ONELGA eagerly anticipate the positive impact of this initiative, which aims to alleviate some of the financial burdens faced by students and their families.