One of the leading modern philanthropists, Mr. Ejike Chukwu has through his foundation given 31 students from Egbema in Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State to study in any university of their choices in Nigeria.
For the 31 students who gathered for the ceremony, the day will be etched in their memory. It was a day they had long waited for. They were full of joy as they stepped out to receive full scholarship for their university education.
Miss Sarah Amadi, a prospective university undergraduate from Eziali Etekwuru Egbema was among them. The students chosen from the communities that make up entire Egbema clan were given scholarships worth millions of naira by the Ejike Chukwu Foundation.
The ceremony took place at the country home of Mr. Ejike Chukwu in Etekwuru Egbema.
Chief Kenneth Okereke, the village head of Etekwuru, commended Chukwu for his large heart stating: “If we have many people like Ejike Chukwu in the state, Imo will be like a small London.”
Chief Okereke praised the foundation’s sponsor for giving back to the society. “He takes delight in humanitarian services,” he said, adding that his footprints have been stamped on provision of grants to selected farmers and women in the area and the other philanthropic gestures.
Ejike Chukwu said he derived joy from helping the needy because there were families that could not train their children in higher institutions.
He said it was his intention to use education to break the barriers of poverty in the society particularly in the oil producing areas of the of the state, according to him, with education, restiveness within the oil bearing communities would stop.
”The two most important things in my life are my love for God and the downtrodden. I am worried by the high level of illiteracy in our society and I am determined to help as many people as possible to overcome this disturbing challenge,” he said.
Chukwu said he is working with renowned education foundations across the world such as Rockefeller, Ford and Dangote Foundations to extend the gesture beyond Imo state.
He urged unlucky applicants to wait for another opportunity in subsequent batches of the yearly scheme.
The scheme, he said, was meant to encourage youths, irrespective of their political orientation or religious background, to actualise their dreams of acquiring higher education.
