Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis Launches Education Trust Fund in Isiala Ngwa South

Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis Launches Education Trust Fund in Isiala Ngwa South

… Presents N2 million Cheque as take off grant, Promises to Launch Artisans Initiative Next Year

The member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis popularly known as ‘Ceaser’ is the rave of the moment in Abia State following the successful launch of his Ugwumba Education Trust Fund in fulfilment of his campaign promise aimed at eradicating illiteracy in his constituency.

The epoch-making event held at Omoba Group Primary School in Isiala Ngwa South local government area of Abia State on Saturday, October 28, 2023 under the distinguished chairmanship of former Accountant General of Abia State and one-time Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sir Gabriel Onyendilefu.

The event commenced with an opening prayer by Chinonso Nweze, PhD.

In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Sir Gabriel Onyendilefu lauded the member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis (Ceaser) for the ground-breaking initiative adding that it would help the people, especially those from indigent homes to go to school.

He described Hon. Rowland Chinwendu’s uncommon gesture as a strong pillar on which people can stand and actualize their educational ambition.

He called on all the illustrious sons and daughters of Isiala Ngwa South, lovers of education and other public-spirited individuals to throw their weight strongly behind the Ugwumba Education Trust Fund.

Sir Gabriel Onyendilefu expressed satisfaction with the way Hon. Rowland Chinwendu has been representing them in the State House of Assembly in the past four months adding that his voice rings the bell on the floor of Abia State House of Assembly.

He eulogized him for raising several motions in the State House of Assembly, especially the resuscitation of moribund industries in the state adding that if the motion sails through at the end of the day that it would create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths and invariably solve the problem of crime in the state.

In his speech, the chairman of the Education Trust Fund, Eze Adindu, PhD described Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis (aka Ceaser) as a man of the people, a great lover of education, quintessential representative, an inimitable role model and consummate philanthropist whose sole ambition is to enhance the lot of his constituents.

He disclosed that Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis has been helping so many people over the years without blowing his trumpet.

According to him, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis has bought WAEC, NECO and JAMB forms for so many people, organized several health outreach programmes and done so many other good things for the people without publicizing it or making a show of it adding that this time they encouraged him to publicize his Education Trust Fund to increase the number of beneficiaries.

Eze Adindu, a senior lecturer at the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Federal University of Calabar appreciated Hon.Rowland Chinwendu Dennis for touching the lives of the people of Isiala Ngwa South tremendously since his foray into politics and urged other political leaders in the state to emulate his peerless example.

He described Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis as a rare gem, very humble, respectful, forthright, indefatigable and God-fearing legislator.

According to him, since he assumed office he has not changed his phone number and whenever you call him he would respond and if he sees you, he would greet you.

He expressed satisfaction with his extraordinary humility, unquantifiable philanthropy and quality representation adding that he is the kind of representative they need.

Eze Adindu described the management of the Education Trust Fund comprising Chinonso Nweze, a lecturer at Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), Barr. Happiness Ahukanna, Nnaemeka Nwokocha and others as people of integrity and assured the people of Isiala Ngwa South that they would be transparent in selecting the beneficiaries to ensure that the right people benefit from the initiative.

Eze Adindu disclosed that the selection process would start from primary school where they would register people for First School Leaving Certificate Examination.

He recalled with nostalgia the good old days in primary and secondary schools when pupils as well as students used to lock horns in debates and quiz competitions across the nation and assured that they would revive it to broaden their knowledge and to promote the spirit of healthy competition and academic excellence among school children adding that the winners would be highly rewarded.

He said that they would also register those in secondary schools for WAEC and NECO and purchase JAMB forms for those who have completed their secondary school education while those already in tertiary institutions such as polytechnic or university would be given bursary award based on their high academic performance.

According to him, anybody in the university who has up to 3.5 CPA is qualified to be considered for bursary award while those in polytechnic whose CPA are up to three points are also qualified.

He emphasized that the Education Trust Fund is for the entire people of Isiala Ngwa South local government area and has nothing to do with party affiliation.

He announced that they would commence free distribution of the forms from first week of November till the end of November 2023 in all the four political blocs in Isiala Ngwa South local government area namely OV-OV, Amobi, Nvosi and Mbutu and urged the people to go and pick the form from the location nearest to them.

He advised those from Nvosi to go and pick the form at Israel Nwokocha’s compound, Umuezu Nvosi, those from Mbutu should go to Ernest’s place, Owerrinta while those from Mbutu ward four should go and pick the form from the following places – Secondary School, Mbutu, Catholic Church, Mbutu and Ahunanya’s compound.

Those from Amobi political bloc should go and pick the form from Kelechi Emole at Mkpuka.

Addressing the huge turnout, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis (Ceaser) expressed profound gratitude to God for making the official take off of his Education Trust Fund a dream come true.

He appreciated all and sundry for their overwhelming support in the 2023 election including the unrelenting commitment of members of Ebubedike Movement and Ugwumba Campaign Organization towards the actualization of his political ambition.

He described the initiative as a sustainable development and called on all those present to support it in order to change the narrative of education in his constituency and give people from poor homes an opportunity to go to school.

According to him, this is not the first time he has done something like this. He said that he has been doing it quietly over the years but decided to publicize this one to increase the number of beneficiaries adding that this is just the beginning of so many good things that he would do for them.

At the end of his speech, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis (Ceaser) handed over a cheque of Two Million Naira (N2, 000, 000.00) to Chief Hilary Alozie, who he described as his uncle, mentor and the man who discovered him and told him that he would go places in politics to present to the chairman of the Education Trust Fund.

Presenting the cheque to the chairman of the Education Trust Fund, Chief Hilary Alozie doffed his cap for Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis for initiating the Education Trust Fund.

He described him as a man of his words and a legendary pacesetter adding that the initiative would give children from indigent homes a brighter future.

He prayed God to grant Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis long life, good health and prosperity to sustain the Education Trust Fund.

He described the gesture as the first of its kind in the political history of Isiala Ngwa South local government area.

He pointed out that this is the first time somebody from OV-OV bloc in Isiala Ngwa South local government area is representing them in the State House of Assembly and expressed satisfaction with his stellar performance within a very short time in office.

He urged him to sustain his good works adding that his second term in office is assured.

On his part, Sir Obinna Odoemenam from Osisioma Ngwa commended his friend, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis (Ceaser) for the laudable education initiative.

He described it as wonderful, apt and worth-replicating in other local government areas of the state.

He stated that education is the key to success and bedrock of development and assured him of his total support.

 

Contributing, the member representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency, Hon. Collins Ugochukwu Iheonunekwu (Ochake) extolled his colleague, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis for the initiative and promised to assist him in sustaining it.

He commended the school children for turning out in their numbers and urged them to avail themselves of the golden opportunity to excel.

The event was a huge success and attracted the presence of notable personalities from far and near including Alhaji Musa Iheakaram, Hon. Chimeremeze Nwankwo, Nze J. Nwogu (Traditional Prime Minister, Ngwa Ukwu Ancient Kingdom), Comrade Henry Ori among others.

Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis is a legendary grassroots politician, a man of the people and silent philanthropist.

The humble, respectful, forthright and indefatigable legislator ‘extraordinaire’ has carved a niche for himself in the politics of Isiala Ngwa South local government area over the years.

In this chat with newsmen, the one-time Transition Committee Councillor, former Deputy Chairman of Isiala Ngwa South local government area, legendary pacesetter, consummate philanthropist and quintessential legislator bares his mind on his uncommon passion for education among other sundry issues. Excerpts.

Congratulations on the successful launch of your Education Trust Fund?

Thank you.

What actually motivated you to launch the Education Trust Fund?

During my medical outreach in 2018-2019, I discovered that there was a high level of illiteracy in Isiala Ngwa South local government area and I promised God that if He helped me to win the 2023 election that I would look into the education sector. And as God may have it, I emerged the winner of Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency election and I said that I would start with education in fulfilment of my campaign promise. So that is what you witnessed here today.

Can you tell us briefly what informed some of the motions you have raised on the floor of the State House of Assembly?

I am a grassroots politician and I live here in the village with my people and I know the areas they are suffering most. So those motions I have raised on the floor of the State House of Assembly such as sitting of a general hospital in Isiala Ngwa South local government area and resuscitation of moribund industries in the state are geared towards enhancing their lot. Prior to my election as the member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency, I have also touched their lives tremendously. I am the founder of Isiala Ngwa South Widows Initiative. We empower widows and the less-privileged by giving them cash, foodstuff, paying school fees for their children as well as hospital bills. By the grace of God next year we are going to launch the artisans initiative. That one would handle the issue of unemployment among the youth of Isiala Ngwa South local government area.