Ihiala Local Government Council through its Support Initiative, has flagged off a scholarship programme for two hundred indigenes of the area to undertake a Five-year B.Sc part-time programme at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, COOU Igbariam.
The flag-off ceremony was held at the council headquarters, where beneficiaries drawn from the ten communities and twenty wards in the local government were officially presented, just as the scholarship covers full tuition fees, as well as stipends for the students throughout the duration of the programme.
Presenting the list of beneficiaries to the University Management, the Mayor of Ihiala Local Government Area, Engineer Anayo Orjiakor, said the initiative was aimed at expanding access to higher education for indigenes who desire to further their academic pursuits but lack the financial capacity, while the Deputy Mayor, Honourable Chukwudozie Okwunna, the Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance in Ihiala Local Government Area, Honourable Chijioke Okoye praised the council leadership for investing in the educational advancement of the people.
In her remarks, the Vice Chancellor of COOU Igbariam, Professor Kate Omenugha, represented by the Coordinator of Ihiala Education Initiative, Dr. Udoka Alajekwu, described the laudable initiative as a bold step towards human capital development, Just as the Head of Local Government Administration in the area, Mrs Benedethe Agha, and a beneficiary Mr. Chigbogu Nnaji expressed gratitude to the council leadership for the opportunity.
