Anambra legislator doles out N5m for scholarship scheme

The member representing Onitsha South One State Constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly and House Committee Chairman on Sustainable Development Goals, Hon Patrick Paddy Aniunoh, has offered relief and education assistance to the parents and guardians of his constituency through a scholarship scheme.

This time, the lawmaker known for his education friendliness and knack for qualitative teaching and learning, doled out the sum of N5 million, to the beneficiaries of his 2017 Scholarship Programme who scored above average during the recently concluded holiday lesson and scholarship examination.

Speaking during the presentation at Urban Girls Secondary School, Fegge Onitsha, Hon. Aniunoh, announced that about 600 students participated in the exercise after which fifty-five well-performing students emerged the winners of the scholarship scheme, noting that the programme had been on for the past three years.

Aniunoh noted that he owed it a duty to his constituents to always deliver dividends of democracy through effective represention to them, saying that he was ready to spend his last kobo just to ensure that the children from his constituency and beyond received quality education.

“As long as I am still at state House of Assembly, I will continue to shoulder the responsibility of giving out scholarship to children from my constituency. I appeal to them to vote me again. If they re-elect me, I will extend the scholarship to university level. I am here to serve. Those who missed out this time should work harder to enable them to take part in next year’s exercise. We have students from junior and senior secondary as beneficiaries.

“The scholarship programme is aimed at reducing financial burden on the parents in the education of their children. 55 out of 600 participants were beneficiaries and I am going to issue out five million cheque to them. I will not forget to thank our hardworking governor, Chief Willie Obiano. I want him returned because he has done marvellously well. My constituents will vote him again,” Aniunoh concluded.

The Umuoji born legislator urged parents and guardians to use the money for the purpose of paying their wards’ school fees, noting that he had done his part by providing the needed resources. This is even as he charged the students to take their studies seriously, adding that if they studied well, they would be useful to themselves, families and society in general.

In his speech, the Onitsha South Local Government Area Chairman, Hon. Emeka Asoanya who doubled also as the chairman of the occassion said he was overwhelemed by Aniunoh’s benevolence, pointing out that Onitsha South students remained the best even as he enjoined the parents to utilize the funds judiciously.

For her part, the principal of Urban Girls Secondary School, Onitsha, Lady Franca Egoobi, thanked Hon. Aniunoh for his generosity, as well as his ability to listen and offer quality representation to his constituents.

She urged the parents to reciprocate the kind gesture by supporting Aniunoh’s re-election, noting that he (Aniunoh) had done well and deserved to be re-elected.

In her closing remarks, Mrs. Aniunoh pointed out that the beneficiaries were selected on merit. She urged other students to put more effort in their studies.

Those who attended the event included, the legal adviser of APGA in Anambra State, Hon. Barister Ezeokenwa Jr Sly, Onitsha South LG APGA Chairman, Hon. Peter Ezeoba Mofus, SSA to the Governor on IGR, Hon. Dr. Amaka Akudo, among others.