Nwifuru sends 90 Ebonyi students to UK, says investment in youth secures future
By Amarachi Eha, Abakaliki
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State on Monday described the state’s overseas scholarship programme as a bold investment in human capital, saying the future prosperity of the state depends on deliberate commitment to youth development.
The governor spoke while flagging off another batch of 90 Ebonyi indigenes selected for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom under the state’s foreign scholarship scheme.
“This event is not just about boarding a flight; it is about destiny taking flight,” Nwifuru said. “It is about hope leaving the shores of Ebonyi State to soar into the future.”
He said the scholarship scheme is one of the most financially demanding interventions of his administration, second only to major infrastructure projects, noting that it faced strong opposition at inception due to economic pressures.
“There were voices calling for its suspension, arguing that resources should go to roads, hospitals and other pressing needs,” he said. “But if we abandon investment in our youth, we mortgage the future of Ebonyi State.”
Nwifuru explained that the programme aligns with his administration’s People’s Charter of Needs, which places human capital development at the centre of governance.
“No society rises above the quality of its human resources,” he said, adding that Ebonyi would not be left behind among progressive states driven by knowledge and character.
Describing the initiative as deeply personal, the governor said the beneficiaries were being offered opportunities he and many others never had, stressing that leadership means making the path easier for the next generation.
He urged the students to act as worthy ambassadors of the state by remaining disciplined, focused and committed to excellence.
“Every naira spent on this scholarship is a collective sacrifice of traders, civil servants, artisans and taxpayers,” he said. “Make every lecture and opportunity count.”
Earlier, Chairman of the Ebonyi State Scholarship Board, Chaka Nweze, said the selection of beneficiaries was based strictly on merit, with a minimum requirement of Second Class Upper (2:1), prioritising candidates with a CGPA of 3.0 and above.
Nweze disclosed that 47 scholars are travelling immediately, while 43 others are awaiting visa clearance following initial rejections by the UK Visas and Immigration, adding that the governor’s intervention had resolved the issues and all 90 would eventually depart.
He added that the scholars signed a bond to return to Nigeria and serve Ebonyi State for five years after their studies, noting that jobs would be available for them in institutions being established by the state government.
