The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor on Sunday, paid the tuition fees of 85 poor and Indigent students across all denominations in Anambra State.
The bishop offered the scholarship through the Justice, Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Awka Diocese in collaboration with the Help For All (HIFA) Initiative, Austria, a Non-Governmental Organization.
The tuition fees totaling 10 million Four Hundred and Forty-five thousand Naira, were disbursed in checks to the beneficiaries at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka.
Declaring the cheque presentation open, Bishop Ezeokafor urged the beneficiaries to work harder in their academic pursuit, describing education as a sure means through which they can achieve greatness and attain their full potential.
He said only the hardworking students would continue to enjoy the tuition fee payment package while the unserious ones would no longer take part in it.
The Prelate who was represented by the Education Secretary of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Reverend Father, Maximus Okonkwo charged the students to guard against distractions and anything that would deny them the opportunity of enjoying the largesse as well as losing focus.
Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries at JDPC, Awka Diocese Secretariat, the Director of JDPC, Awka Diocese and the Chairman Anambra State HIFA Board, Rev Fr Levi Ukor revealed that they worked in partnership with HIFA Austria, noting that the Organization was formed and funded by retired teachers in Austria.
‘The sponsors are interested in your results; your performance and reports from the school authority. These are the things that are encouraging the sponsors to increase the money instead of giving out the usual 121,000 Naira they are giving to each student.
“The total money we are spending this year is Ten Million Four Hundred and Forty-five thousand Naira.
“Last year, we spent Seven million Naira. So, it is not a small money. We want people to know that the Church is spending this huge amount of money on Education,” he said.
Fr Ukor thanked Bishop Ezeokafor for seeing that there was a need to help indigent people in securing their future through continuous education.
“The bishop could have channeled the funds to other areas but he decided to help in the indigent.
“The NGO has also moved a notch further by increasing the fund from the seven million it was last year to ten million naira, in recognition of the economic situation in the country,” he said.
Cautioning parents to make judicious use of the fund, the director also challenged the students to always improve in their academic work, saying it was the only way to appreciate HIFA and the bishop.
Some of the students whose academic records were impressive were also rewarded with additional funds, according to the Director.
According to Rev Fr Ukor, they scout for indigent students yearly, after which the lucky ones would be thoroughly investigated to ascertain all facts before compiling and submitting their names to HIFA Austria for onward release of funds, noting that they also engage in building and renovation of schools, hospitals and that they were into provision of transportation to ease the stress and hardship occasioned by lack of adequate vehicles and means of transportation.
He announced that the students were drawn from different schools in Anambra State not minding their religious or denominational inclinations and faith, saying that some were picked from schools in Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha, Ihiala, Ekwuluobi, and Orumba, among others, adding that the beneficiaries were gotten through the applications submitted during their monthly meetings.
In his remarks, the JDPC Diocesan Chairman, Hon. Paulinus Adinuba called parents not to use the money given, for any other purpose except for the school it is meant for.
It was gathered that N121,000 naira was given to each of the 83 students and 2 students (Maura Dorothy Anozie and Lawrence Chiekezie) were given N270,600 and N141,400 respectively for their academic performance.
Some beneficiaries which included Ibekwe Chioma from Amaenyi Secondary School, Awka Kizito Ebele from Community Secondary, Obelendu; Lawrence Uchechukwu Chiekezie from St. Michael’s Comprehensive Secondary School, Nimo and Pamela Chikerem Onwuka from Fr. Tansi Memorial Secondary School Akpu, all appreciated the bishop for his kind gesture and promised to improve in their academics to be shining lights to others.
