By Ify Ifeka, Awka.
Over one hundred indigenes of Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Monday, got enrolled into academic scholarships and skills acquisition programmes floated by their kits and kins resident in United States of America (USA) and Canada under the auspices of Awka Development Union USA & Canada.
The beneficiaries, who cut across the 33 villages in Awka would be studying medicine and other professional courses in universities across the country, while those selected for skills would in the next one year or more become successful bakers, information technologists, electrical engineers, data managers, fashion designers, among others.
Speaking at the flag off of the programme held at Umudioka Ndichie hall, the National President, Awka Development Union USA & Canada, Dr Anayo Nwobum, explained that the beneficiaries were those whose applications were adjudged the best, even as he added that more would subsequently join the programme.
Nwobum, who noted that they would fund the programme from their pockets through donations and contributions, explained that the education scholarships would last as long as the beneficiaries proved their mettle just as they had already paid the trainers otherwise known as mentors, and would further provide them with allowances and logistics throughout, and start-up capitals at the end.
“It was an initiative geared towards eradicating poverty, while producing champions, captain of industries, International and local business tycoons, among others.
“There would be checks and balances so as to monitor both the trainees and trainers for maximum utilisation of the programme, and those found wanting in between the programme would be punished accordingly,” he noted.
Contributing, the Secretary General, Awka Development Union USA & Canada, Dr Dilim Iloanya, urged the beneficiaries of the scheme to be serious, committed and focused so that at end of their learning they would join in lifting others, thereby making Awka an industrious city with successful people.
On his part, another member of the Union, Ken Chinweze, argued that the empowerment programme would make their children and siblings happy as self-sufficient and employers of labour.
Also speaking, the President of Awka Youth home and abroad, Hon. Ikechukwu Ezenwa, hailed the intiators of the programme, which according to him, would lessen crimes, eradicate poverty, joblessness and their burdens in the community.
Ezenwa further assured that the youth would be committed towards ensuring that the programme was successful by checking the beneficiaries and their mentors, as well as providing them security and other enablers to thrive.
In their various contributions, the mentors/trainers including Mr Peter Otuo, Dr Mrs Ngozi Agbata, Mrs Joy Ezenwa and Prince Charles Nnebe called on the trainees to be loyal, focused and committed to the programme as they were ready to tutor them to become successful in their chosen careers.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Nkem Nwanna, Ofodile MacDonald and Jude Chukwuemeka, commended the benefactors for the opportunities, assuring that they would comply to the terms and conditions guiding the programme with a view to become useful in society and not to disappoint them.
Some of the parents, Mrs Ifeyinwa Onyekuba and Mr Anayo Obiakor pledged to do all that would be humanly possible to support their children and the benefactors for the success of the programme, because according to them, it had lifted the burdens of training and feeding their children.
