At least 68 indigent students of Delta State origin who are schooling at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, on Sunday bagged the 3rd Chief Dr. Jude and Dr. Yolanda Ndudi Scholarship awards.
The scholarship programme which is being run by a philanthropist from Delta State, Chief Ndudi Ozah, the Isagba of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, is geared towards providing relief to indigent students of Delta State origin schooling at UNN.
While speaking during the disbursement ceremony at UNN, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Ike Onyishi, who is also the anchor person at UNN, said that the scholarship scheme has provided succour to the beneficiaries at UNN.
“This scholarship programme which is the third in the series has really helped the beneficiaries. With the economic hardship everywhere, even if they didn’t use the money as part of their fees, they can use it as part of their upkeep. The major challenge now for students is no longer school fees but the upkeep which is three times the school fees because of the high inflation in the country.
“Some of them have graduated and the money can help in either paying their clearance fees or transportation fares when traveling home and other associated fees. We are hopeful that the students would make judicious use of the money in tackling financial challenges relating to their academic responsibilities.
“The way the students are clamouring for the award and the way they feel good each time the award is given shows that they are benefiting from it,” he said.
He further explained that the programme has helped the students to have stronger students’ association at UNN and in reviving their cultural heritage.
He lauded the exemplary leadership and patriotic spirit of Chief Ozah, describing him as the epitome of philanthropy and a positive change agent whose love for education and human capital development is unprecedented.
Also, while speaking during the disbursement ceremony, the National President, Delta State Students Association, UNN Chapter, Joachim Akpo, said that the screening committee gave priority attention to indigent students of Delta State origin in the selection process.
“Those students who have lost their parents were the first to be considered by the committee constituted for the selection of the beneficiaries. We also put our fresh students into consideration in order to give them a sense of belonging here in UNN.
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“Because one must be a member of our students Association to benefit from this award, it has made the Delta State Students Assoviation, UNN Chapter very strong. It was also as result of this scholarship programme that the Delta State Students Cultural Week received life and has continued to be remarkable since the scholarship scheme began because the students decided to remit part of the money to support the cultural week, ” he said.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Nkechi Onyegu , of Ndokwa West; and Chinonso Nwafor of Aniocha South Local Government Areas of Delta State among others expressed appreciation to Chief Ozah for giving their education pursuit a lifeline through the scholarship scheme, pledging to utilize the money judiciously to attain academic successes.
The highlight of the ceremony was the disbursement of N30,000 each to the beneficiary.
