EzeNdigbo foundation, an NGO, Monday, said it has offered scholarships worth five million naira for 10 indigent students from Enugwu Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra State to study at University and Federal Polytechnics.
Dr. Onyeka Ifekandu, the founder of the foundation said that the action will cost 5 million naira to get the selected beneficiaries done in their educational pursuit after which another set will be selected through examination test.
Ifekandu disclosed the information to some journalists on Sunday in Enugwu-Ukwu during the events which attracted some members of the community to witness the maiden inauguration of the foundation
He said that the scholarship scheme would run for five consecutive years, is aimed at assisting those whose parents could not afford their school tuition fee.
The occasion tagged, "Inauguration of Ezendigbo foundation and disbursement of financial academic support," to 10 selected students," which saw each of the beneficiary receiving between N40, 000 to N50,000 revolving scholarship scheme.
Ifekandu, said that the foundation was aimed to be a tool for use to touch lives of indigents people in the community as his social corporate responsibility.
Ifekandu disclosed that the foundation was founded in 2021 at Lagos Island in Lagos state but he decided that come home to inaugurate it for more visible activities.
“Charity they say begins at home so I am home to officially start all programs I have lined up under this foundation which includes educational support.
“ Entrepreneurial support amongst other related human development skills are part of the program, everybody must not go to university so we will help according to the wishes of the people.
He said that the use of the foundation will achieve service to the needy without preference but to those in actual need of the scheme as a contribution to build a healthy and crime free community.
According to the sponsor, "I lost my dad at early age and as such did not achieve a sound educational career with my age mates.
“I single handedly at age 15, financed my primary and secondary education to Ordinary National Diploma level at Lagos State Polytechnic.
“ It is my special joy and sincere desire to encourage indigents youths in my community who wants to study to so do because I appreciate the gains of education,”he said
Ifekandu disclosed that the foundation was founded in 2021 at Lagos Island in Lagos state but he decided that come home to inaugurate it for more visible activities.
“Charity they say begins at home so I am home to official kick start all programs I have lined up under this foundation which includes educational support.
“ Entrepreneurial support amongst other related human development skills are part of the program, everybody must not go to university so we will help according to the wishes of the people.
“I have been in Lagos over 30 years doing my legitimate business, I assist my Igbo people and even non Igbo in Lagos Island which earned me the title Ezendigbo in Lagos Island where my business is sited.
“ I render financial help,give loans to those in financial problem and even provide free legal aids to those who could not finance their legal cases once threatened by any person in Lagos Island,”he said.
Ifekandu said he has been rendering help to the poor for over five years now because having come from a very poor background gives an idea what struggling people daily go through.
"So, having come from a poor family background, I resolved to assist such people. This scholarship scheme is for five years and then another 10 students will come on board.
“My two children are undergraduate at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, I want them to be in public University or Polytechnics so as to have real life experience.
“I can afford to put them in a private or missionary schools where millions of naira will be paid as tuition fee and true life struggles will be kept away from them, if I die today,I am sure they will handle life well.
" My children are in Federal University, those ten on my scholarship scheme are in Federal government universities or Polytechnics that show them equality of men,”he said.
Ifekandu said the foundation also will float a transport scheme for people who want to be drivers within the state as the vehicles are down and will be managed by his foundation coordinator, Mr Anthony Icheke.
He said that the commercial motor business is also a revolving arrangements where what is generated will be put in the service of the scheme for expansion to accommodate other interested persons.
Icheke, the coordinator of the foundation said that all plans on done for optimal operation of the foundation activities in the community.
He said that if the pilot group performs creditably the team may increase the educational support money to N10 million with time to the benefiting indigent students.
Chief Andrew Obidike who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries commended Ifekandu for his thought of building up the youths in the community and advised the students to make good use of the opportunity.