By Okechukwu Onuegbu


The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor in collaboration with Help For All (HIFA), an Austrian based Nongovernmental organisation, Sunday, awarded a scholarship of ₦10,445,000 to indigent students in Anambra State.

Ezeokafor, while presenting the cash to 85 beneficiaries from across primary and secondary schools, at an event held at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Awka, the Anambra State, admonished the students to be of good conduct and study hard so as to finish with flying colours, and become useful to society.

The prelate, represented by Rev. Fr Maximus Okonkwo, explained that the beneficiaries were carefully selected from primary and secondary schools across the 21 Local Government Areas (LGA).

Contributing, the Director, Justice for Peace and Development Caritas (JDPC), Rev. Fr Levi Ukor, explained that the scholarship was an annual event aimed at empowering the indigent students to acquire knowledge and skills they would use in developing society thereafter.

According to him, 83 of the students would receive ₦121,000 each while two others whose academic performance were found to be outstanding by HIFA board would receive the sum of ₦270,600 and ₦141,400 respectively as encouragement to sustain the tempo.

He recalled that the funder (HIFA) moved a notch further by increasing the fund from the seven million it was last year to over ten million naira in recognition of the economic situation in the country.

Speaking in separate interviews, some of the beneficiaries, Master Lawrence Chiekezie from St. Michael's Comprehensive Secondary School, Nimo and Miss Pamela Onwuka from Fr. Tansi Memorial Secondary School Akpu, appreciated the bishop for the kind gesture and promised to improve in their academics so as to be shining lights to others.

Earlier, the JDPC Diocesan Chairman, Hon. Paulinus Adinuba warned parents against using the funds for any personal venture or business other than paying tuition fees, buying books, school uniforms and other academic purposes.