The Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, Sen. Austin Akobundu, has reaffirmed his commitment to advancing education by unveiling a multi-million naira education grant for undergraduate students of Abia Central extraction studying in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The initiative, which forms part of the senator’s human capital development agenda, saw 114 undergraduate students receive educational grants of ₦200,000 each, while 113 students under the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) scholarship programme received funding covering the final two semesters of their three-year NCE programme.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony in Umuahia, Akobundu said the intervention was aimed at ensuring that no student from Abia Central abandons his or her education because of financial hardship.
He recalled that during the 2023 electioneering campaign, he promised to pursue people-oriented representation anchored on human capital development, stressing that the educational support initiative was another fulfilment of that promise.
According to him, his empowerment programmes have continued to evolve beyond conventional distribution of material items to long-term investments in people through education, skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.
The senator highlighted several initiatives already implemented under his representation, including the training and empowerment of hundreds of women and youths in tailoring and modern farming, with beneficiaries receiving sewing machines, farm inputs and take-off grants.
He also noted that over 300 youths and women had been trained in paint production and cosmetics manufacturing and supported with start-up kits and cash grants to establish their businesses.
In addition, Akobundu disclosed that his office sponsored 400 secondary school students for training in Embedded Systems, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, while another 360 youths benefited from digital skills training in UI/UX design, web development, graphics design, cyber security, digital marketing, software development, data science and Forex trading.
He further explained that his intervention in education extended to sponsoring 113 students on full scholarships at the National Teachers’ Institute to address the shortage of qualified teachers in the district, noting that the beneficiaries are now in their final year.
Describing education as the greatest investment any society can make, the senator said the new grant scheme was designed to help indigent students remain in school despite prevailing economic challenges.
He assured constituents that the education grant would not be a one-off intervention, adding that it has been institutionalised as a key component of his legislative agenda.
Akobundu urged the beneficiaries to justify the confidence reposed in them by remaining focused on their studies and avoiding examination malpractice, cultism, drug abuse, prostitution and other social vices.
He encouraged them to graduate with excellent academic records and exemplary character, describing them as future ambassadors of Abia Central.
Earlier, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Hon. Stanley Nwabusi, explained that the programme was conceived to support students, particularly indigent ones, in pursuing higher education.
He said applications were received through an online process, after which qualified beneficiaries were selected through a transparent screening exercise, while another category of genuinely indigent students was also accommodated.
Nwabusi disclosed that the senator had consistently funded the tuition of NTI scholarship beneficiaries throughout their three-year programme and had now approved payment for their remaining two semesters.
In his remarks, Hon. Dan Onwutegbe commended the beneficiaries for emerging successful and urged them to become worthy ambassadors of Abia Central.
He noted that over one thousand persons had benefited from Senator Akobundu’s various empowerment programmes, including skills acquisition in tailoring, paint production and other vocational fields, and encouraged the students to publicise the senator’s developmental initiatives across their communities.
Also speaking the Legislative Coordinator of Ikwuano LGA, Elder Henry Nwaoha, alongside the Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC), in Ikwuano, Comrade Osondu Ajuzie, said the senator had redefined legislative representation through sustainable investments in education.
According to them, unlike traditional empowerment programmes centred on distributing vehicles, tricycles and food items, educational support provides beneficiaries with lifelong opportunities that cannot be lost or sold.
They called on other political office holders to emulate Akobundu’s approach to empowerment, insisting that investment in education remains the most enduring legacy any leader can leave behind.
The speakers also urged eligible constituents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them participate in future elections.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor of Amadeus University, Ikwuano, Prof. Henry Eke, described the education grant as a bold demonstration of the senator’s commitment to the academic development of young people.
He urged beneficiaries to utilise the financial support judiciously, stressing that education remains a lifetime investment capable of transforming lives far beyond temporary material assistance.
Similarly, the Centre Manager of the NTI Ikwuano Study Centre, Mrs. Ebillah Victoria, said many students had initially expressed interest in the programme but were unable to continue because of financial constraints until Senator Akobundu intervened by sponsoring their education.
She described the intervention as life-changing and appealed to beneficiaries to remain committed to their studies while supporting initiatives that promote educational development.
Also speaking, the South East ADC Assistant Youth Leader, Comrade Paul Nwagbala, commended Akobundu for carrying out empowerment programmes without political discrimination.
He noted that beneficiaries of the senator’s various interventions cut across different political parties, describing the initiative as people-centred rather than partisan.
In the same vein, the ADC candidate for Umuahia Central State Constituency, Godslight Mbakwe, described Akobundu as a father figure whose leadership style reflects wisdom, compassion and commitment to the welfare of the people.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, a Law student of Abia State University, Uturu, Okechukwu Manasseh Destiny, expressed appreciation to the senator for the support.
He assured that the beneficiaries would make proper use of the grants, remain committed to their academic pursuits and encourage other eligible students to take advantage of future opportunities under the programme.
