by Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has charged beneficiaries of bursary awards from Ugolee People’s Foundation to be focused in their studies and uphold good manners in their academic pursuit to justify the foundations investment in their education.
Governor Otti who gave the charge at Mbara Ama Ohokobe, in Umuahia North LGA, during the 2024 Ugolee People’s Foundation bursary awards to over 120 students drawn from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, courtesy of the deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Augustine Okezie, enjoined them to take their studies seriously in order to actualize their aspirations in life.
The Governor represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba while emphasizing that his administration places great premium on education, disclosed that his decision to allocate 20 percent of the total budget is driven by his administration’s understanding that proper education and capacity building is key and a great vision that is transgenerational.
He commended the deputy speaker and sponsor of the 2024 Ugolee People’s Foundation bursary award, Mr Augustine Okezie for putting the interest and welfare of his constituents above his personal interest and charged other well-to-abians to emulate his sterling qualities.
In his speech, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Emmanuel Emeruwa represented by the member for Umuahia Central, Mr Anthony Chinasa described the action of the Deputy Speaker as commendable and worthy of emulation and called on the beneficiaries to make proper utilization of the bursary award to improve their education and become better individuals in the society.
In their goodwill messages, the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Ebere Ugwueje, the majority leader, Mr Uchenna Okoro, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Eme Uche Eme, her Trade, Commerce and Industry counterpart, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Dr Kene Nwosu among others commended the Deputy Speaker for tolling the part of giving back to society, and urged the beneficiaries to shun acts capable of jeopardizing their future.
In his address, the Deputy Speaker and founder, Ugolee People’s Foundation, Mr Augustine Okezie said the bursary award is an opportunity to further demonstrate the resolve of the foundation over the years to buttress and further the course of education and skills acquisition by the younger generation and commended the Governor, Dr Alex Otti for prioritizing education in this year’s budget.
Mr Okezie appreciated all who attended the event for their support and encouragement while expressing confidence that the beneficiaries will put the bursary into good use and that subsequent editions will get to those not captured in the current one.
Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries, Hosanna Samuel Nse, who was full of appreciation to the Deputy Speaker, Mr Augustine Okezie and his Ugolee People’s Foundation for the gesture, assured that they will not take it for granted but will put it to good use and prayed God to reward him abundantly.
The event which featured the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries also attracted members of the state executive council, appointees of government, traditional rulers among others.
