Sir C Y Nwankwo Education Foundation Postpones Scholarship Disbursement Award 2024
... Rewards Best Candidates
Sir C Y Nwankwo Education Foundation Postpones Scholarship Disbursement Award 2024
…Rewards Best Candidates
Sir C Y Nwankwo Education Foundation postpones its 2024 Scholarship Disbursement Award due to the inability of the successful candidates to meet the requisite criteria
All was set for the Sir C Y Nwankwo Education Foundation Scholarship Disbursement Award 2024 before it was postponed at the tail-end of the ceremony due to the inability of the successful candidates to provide all the relevant documents requested by the notable Education Foundation in the nation such as Admission Letter from a recognized Public University in Nigeria, the Candidates’ University Identity Cards, Letter of Recommendation from the Heads of Department, Letter of Attestation from the Dean of Student Affairs among others.
The successful candidates accompanied by their parents and guardians had gathered at the Ahiaba Ubi palatial country home of Sir C. Y. Nwankwo, the Mayor of Isiala Ngwa North local government area and Founder of Sir C. Y. Nwankwo Education Foundation on Saturday, August 31, 2024 with glee and looking forward to smiling home with their cheques.
Some of them left their various destinations very early in the morning that day in order to beat the Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise in Abia State while others arrived shortly after the clean-up exercise.
On arrival, they were ushered into a very large, fully air-conditioned and well arranged hall where they waited patiently for the commencement of the Scholarship Disbursement and Award Ceremony.
The ceremony commenced immediately the Coordinator of Sir C. Y. Nwankwo Education Foundation, Prof. Dele Ashiru of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos (UNILAG) arrived with his team comprising Sir Amanze, Sir Raymond Eguzouwa (KSM) – the Personal Assistant to Sir C Y Nwankwo, the Mayor of Isiala Ngwa North local government area among others.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Dele Ashiru congratulated the successful candidates on their excellent performance in the examination, which took place at two centres in Abia State namely Abayi Girls Secondary School, Aba and Ibeku High School, Umuahia.
He said that it is not easy to scale through the rigorous hurdles and screening processes adding that the scholarship award is not based on ‘who you know’ rather it is based on merit.
He commended Sir C. Y. Nwankwo for giving back to the society over the years through his Scholarship Award to indigent but brilliant students in public universities in Nigeria to aid their education.
He said that Sir C. Y. Nwankwo has through his Education Foundation restored hope to so many poor students who would have given up the hope of going to the university because of poverty and contributed immensely to the education sector of Abia State and the nation at large.
Prof. Dele Ashiru described Sir C. Y. Nwankwo as a detribalized Nigerian, a man of distinction and a selfless leader who cares about the future of the youth in Abia State and the nation unlike those who only care about the future of their own children.
He extolled him for choosing him as the Coordinator, Sir C. Y. Nwankwo Education Foundation saying that his choice is a testament to his detribalized nature.
Prof. Dele Ashiru urged the successful candidates to emulate Sir C. Y. Nwankwo’s sterling qualities of hard work, dedication, selflessness and distinction in order to actualize their goals in life.
He also called on other public-spirited individuals and lovers of education to key into Sir C . Y. Nwankwo’s philosophy of a better society where education prevails and ensure that no child drops out of school because of poverty.
Thereafter, the Founder of Sir C. Y. Nwankwo Education Foundation and Mayor of Isiala Ngwa North local government area, Sir Cyprian Nwankwo walked into the hall quietly. His esteemed presence was greeted with admiration and standing ovation.
Without wasting time, Prof. Dele Ashiru introduced Sir C. Y. Nwankwo to the people and eulogized his tremendous contributions to the educational pursuit of so many brilliant but indigent students in Abia State and beyond over the years. At the end of his introduction, he invited Sir C. Y. Nwankwo to address the beneficiaries.
In his speech, Sir C. Y. Nwankwo congratulated the successful candidates for their brilliant performance in the tough examination.
He said that the essence of the Scholarship Award is to assist those that are intelligent but indigent to ensure that they fulfil their educational ambition.
He described the Scholarship Award as a rare opportunity to help them to actualize their dream adding that so many people have benefitted from it over the years.
According to him, beneficiaries of the Sir C. Y. Nwankwo Scholarship Award do not need to know anybody to apply and become a beneficiary.
He said that he does not know any of the beneficiaries since he set up the foundation till date and has never called a meeting and said that he wanted to see all those that have benefitted from his Scholarship Award over the years.
He maintained that he is not interested in knowing the beneficiaries stressing that his Scholarship Award is not self-serving or politically-motivated.
He said that it is part of his own contribution to humanity and expressed the hope that the beneficiaries would utilize the opportunity very, very well to accomplish their educational ambition and become successful in life and be able to help others so that good things would continue to go on and on.
He wished them the best in life and advised them to take their studies very serious so as to maintain a certain level of Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) to continue enjoying the scholarship till they graduate.
He encouraged them to make the best use of the opportunity so as to come out in flying colours adding that those who come out with First Class would go for master’s.
He called on all those whom God has blessed to become a blessing to others in whichever way they can stressing that while everybody is trying and struggling that they should not leave behind those who are less fortunate. His inspiring speech drew resounding applause.
Prof. Dele Ashiru appreciated Sir C. Y. Nwankwo for his great passion for education saying that his philosophy is that once you are educated, you can do something for yourself, your parents and the society at large.
He described education as the live-wire of every nation emphasizing that no nation can grow beyond its educational system.
He noted that many students have benefitted immensely from Sir C. Y. Nwankwo Scholarship Award for brilliant but indigent students in public universities across the nation in the past sixteen years saying that 43 candidates were successful in the last qualifying examination.
He stated that the Scholarship Award is open to all brilliant but indigent students who can pass the qualifying examination, which is usually conducted in two centres in Umuahia and Aba.
He pointed out that the Scholarship Award is not for one year only but for four years based on their academic performance in their respective universities adding that sometimes it could be extended for those whose courses go beyond four years.
He called on other successful Nigerians not only in the Southeast but all over the nation to emulate Sir C Y Nwankwo’s Philosophy of Education of liberating the people from the shackles of poverty through education and ensuring that no brilliant child drops out of school because of poverty stressing that the only legacy one can bequeath to posterity is the impact one makes on others and the society.
He reiterated that Sir C Y Nwankwo’s Scholarship Award is a humanitarian and personal contribution to the development of education in Abia State, the Southeast and the nation.
He expressed optimism that Sir C Y Nwankwo would do his best to ensure that the legacy continues to exist and prayed that God would continue to bless him more and more so that he would keep on making impact on the lives of so many people.
Thereafter, Prof. Dele Ashiru announced that it was time for the presentation of the Scholarship Award to the beneficiaries and asked them to get all the requirements ready.
He stated for avoidance of doubt that the Scholarship Award is for those who are already in the university.
However, he later said that because of the uncommon magnanimity of Sir C Y Nwankwo, the Board and Management of the Foundation have considered candidates who were successful in the examination but have just gained admission into the university.
He assured them that their own award would be reserved for them till they finish processing their admission.
The cheering news occasioned resounding applause and the beneficiaries including their parents praised Sir C Y Nwankwo for the rare gesture and prayed God to bless him more abundantly.
Thereafter, Prof. Dele Ashiru presented the three best candidates in the examination namely David Uchechi Joy Ogbu (first position), Justina Chimdinma (second position) and Okwuonu Ebubechi George (third position) to Sir C Y Nwankwo.
Sir C Y Nwankwo commended them for their brilliant performance and urged them to keep it up.
He appreciated them with a handsome cash reward in the following order first position (N50, 000.00), second position (N25, 000.00) and third position (N20, 000.00).
Thereafter, the successful candidates were asked to present all the necessary documents requested by Sir C Y Nwankwo Education Foundation to enable them to receive their cheques.
Surprisingly, none of them had the complete documents, especially their University Identity Card, which would enable them to cash the cheque.
The founder, Sir C Y Nwankwo expressed shock over the development and wondered why the candidates cannot get their university identity card after spending one or two years in the university.
He expressed deep concern over the development and felt for the beneficiaries because of the difficulties they encountered trying to get the documents from their respective universities. He urged them to remain patient till the problem is resolved.
He conferred with the Coordinator, Prof. Dele Ashiru and other members of Sir C Y Nwankwo Education Foundation present on the way forward and they agreed to write a letter to the respective universities attaching their letter of award and requesting them to kindly assist the beneficiaries with the relevant documents on time to enable them to receive their cheque.
After all said, the Scholarship Disbursement Award was postponed till December 14, 2024 to enable the beneficiaries to get all the requirements.
However, the Coordinator of Sir C Y Nwankwo Education Foundation, Prof. Dele Ashiru assured the successful candidates that the cheques have been written and signed waiting for disbursement as soon as they submit all the necessary documents.
In their reaction, some of the candidates and their parents said that there are lots of intricacies in getting the stipulated documents from their respective universities and commended Sir C Y Nwankwo and the entire management of the foundation for wading into the matter.
The list of the successful candidates of the 2024 Sir C Y Nwankwo Scholarship Award included David Uchechi Joy Ogbu, Justina Chimdinma, Okwuonu Ebubechi George, Chibuike Favour Uchechukwu, Okechukwu Prosper Chukwuemeka, Kirian Tochukwu Prosper, Okechukwu Prosper Chiemerie, Dike Chinwenmeri Confidence, Agu Gift Onyinyechi, Madugba Onyedikachi Fortune, Ede Kelechi Jonathan, Godskind Victoria Adaoma, Gab Ekpendu Marvelous Kamsi, Emmanuel Ogba Desire, Ozuzo Chiamanda U, Chidi Obiuto P, Ebereonwu Prisca Anulika, Chinyere Nancy Chidinma, Okechukwu Nmesoma Jane, Emmanuel Ogba Destiny, David Prince Uchendu, Ezeofor Kelechukwu Prince David, Okechi Precious Ezinne, Shogunle Ifeoluwa Omolatani, Nwokoma E. David, Nwigwe Lawrence Chisom, Benson Godswill Udochukwu, Onwutuebe Esther Chinyere, Chikaodi Divine Onyinyechi, Ogbonna Chidozie Emmanuel, Edo Divine Favour Chioma, Abajuo Ikenna Collins, Obialor Chioma, Ikeokwu Emmanuel Chidubem, Owanta Chisomaga, Winifred Uzoma Esther, Nkwachi Obinna Fortunatus, Kalu Joseph Itam, Onwutuebe Maria Kelechi, Ndubuisi Charles N, Okechukwu Wisdom Ikechukwu, Ugoani Emmanuel Ugonna and Prosper Arungwa.