RAYMOND OZOJI reports
About 200 indigent persons in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State have benefitted from Anayochukwu Orjiako Education Support Project.
The educational support programme which is a pet project of the incumbent council chairman of Ihiala Local Government Area Hon. Engr. Anayochukwu Charles Ojiakor, was a veritable platform for the beneficiaries who could not purchase JAMB forms for themselves to pursue their university education.
It was a indeed a festival of smiles and profound joy as the council chairman Engr. Orjiako rewarded candidates who clinched first, second and third positions in this year's JAMB examination in the entire council area with cash prizes and consolation prizes for others who were outstanding too.
The overall best in the JAMB examination Miss Hannah Ele who hails from Uzoakwa and applied to study law at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, said Anayochukwu Orjiako Education Support Project was worthwhile as she believes it is a medium to empower those at the grassroots in realizing their dreams of acquiring higher education.
Emmanuel Ilechukwu a 16 year old young lad and a native of Osumoghu in Ihiala Local Government Area, who aspires to study Medical Laboratory Science at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, said that the council chairman's education support programme is the first of its kind because it offered opportunity to the less privileged to actualise their ambitions of obtaining university education. Ilechukwu was also recognized for his sterling performance in this year's JAMB examination.
Chiagoziem Victor Ndubuokwu a native of Uli, who bagged second position and hopes to study Medical Laboratory Science at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Federal University as well as his third position counterpart Master Chukwuemeka Henry Chinecherem from Okija, who applied for Accountancy at the University of Port Harcourt River State, thanked Engr. Anayochukwu Orjiako for his magnanimity and kind disposition in giving them opportunity to pursue their dreams and aspirations.
Miss Janet Bassey Effiong, a serving corps member in Ihiala Local Government Area, who was one of the teachers that prepared the candidates for the JAMB examination in the extra-learning classes sponsored by the chairman, disclosed that Ihiala got talents from her interactions with the youngsters even as she also appreciated the council chairman for providing the platform for the participants to harness their talents and potentials.
Meanwhile the Secretary-General Anayochukwu Orjiako Education Support Project, Mr. Enzo Uzodimma Nzeribe, said that the scheme would continue because its primary objective is to assist as well as encourage citizens of Ihiala Local Government Area to go to school as education, according to him, is key to societal development and that the council chairman placed so much premium on education.
Nzeribe however called on other well-to-do individuals in Ihiala Local Government Area to borrow a leaf from the council chairman and further assist the less privileged ones who can not afford to purchase JAMB forms to help so as to encourage children of the less privileged to go to school to enable them to contribute to the development of the society.
Also the Director-General Anayochukwu Orjiako Education Support Project, Mr. David Wole Olugbemi, said that the education support will not end at just buying JAMB forms and rewarding outstanding candidates.
He therefore emphasized that the foundation will closely monitor beneficiaries of the support scheme to ensure that they secured admissions into their respective choice institutions of higher learning and also provide necessary assistance whenever the need arise, until they graduate and give back to the society.
The DG Anayochukwu Orjiako Education Support Project maintained that the education support scheme for empowerment of Ihiala youths would be sustained even if the benefactor seizes to be the local government chairman.
Presenting the cash and consolation prizes to the best performing candidates in the 2025 JAMB examination, Ihiala Local Government Chairman and founder Anayochukwu Orjiako Education Support Project, Hon. Engr. Anayochukwu Charles Orjiako, admonished the beneficiaries not to be carried away by youthful exuberance and juvenile deliquescences or get involved in acts that could jeopardize their future instead they should channel their youthful energy and ingenuity to the realization of their dreams and aspirations in their respective educational pursuits, adding that his foundation is determined to empowering youths with literacy.
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