Enyinna Omoke, Abakaliki
Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has offered 90 students scholarship in various discipline abroad.He also urged them to be good ambassadors and not to bring shame to the state.
Nwifuru made this known while addressing the stakeholders of the state and the scholarship awardees during the flag off of the second Batch of the overseas scholarship scheme of the government, that took place at the Okadigbo international airport, Onueke, Ebonyi State. News subscription service
He emphasized: “The event today is not just about boarding a flight, rather, it is about destiny taking flight. It is about hope leaving the runway of Ebonyi State and soaring into the future.
“Each one of you seated here represents a dream that this government has chosen to protect, nurture, and send forth into the world. During the first batch of our scholarship, held early last year, I called for behavioural change.
“But today, let me speak to you sincerely and from the depth of my soul. I want you to know that this overseas scholarship programme costs the Ebonyi State Government a very huge sum of money.
“It is one of the most financially demanding interventions of this administration, coming second to other interventions like Works and Infrastructural. When I first conceived this idea, of course, there were intense debates. There were pressures.
There were strong voices, both within and outside the government, these voices for record purposes and for your consumption, openly calling for its suspension, especially in light of the global economic downturn.
“They argued that the resources should be channelled elsewhere, especially in provisions of basic infrastructures for our people in our remote villages. I weighed options after listening to their compelling arguments and intellectually challenging submissions.
