Akwa Ibom Accountant General Awards Scholarships to 124 Students, Empowers Youth

In a significant boost for local education, the state’s Accountant General, Pastor Uwem Andrew-Essien, has awarded scholarships to 124 students from the Atiamkpat community in Onna Local Government Area.

The beneficiaries, currently enrolled in tertiary institutions nationwide, received their cheques at a presentation ceremony on Friday. Andrew-Essien described the initiative as a personal commitment to societal impact.

“Education is a reliable and sustainable investment in human development,” he stated. “This scheme was conceived to motivate our young people to embrace education and remain focused on their academic goals despite the economic challenges.”

He highlighted that the intervention aims to ease the financial burden of tuition and other expenses on parents, noting that economic constraints have often hampered the aspirations of brilliant students.

The AG revealed that the scholarship vision, which began seven years ago, has already produced graduates with Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees from within the community. He urged the new beneficiaries to justify the investment by remaining disciplined and hardworking, becoming worthy ambassadors for their families and community.

The event also featured a health outreach led by the AG’s wife, Imabong Uwem Andrew-Essien, founder of the Only Believe Care Foundation. She educated women on healthy living, cancer prevention, and self-breast examination techniques, stressing the importance of early detection.

Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Hon. Ime Utin, advised the students to shun social vices and concentrate on their studies.

Beneficiaries expressed profound gratitude, calling the support “inspiring and life-changing.” A past scholar, Miss Abigail Sunday Festus, praised the AG’s consistent philanthropy and offered prayers for his family.

Beyond the scholarships, the programme empowered 25 youths through an apprenticeship scheme facilitated by the Accountant General in partnership with the Only Believe Care Foundation.

The event concluded with the National Association of Atiamkpat Students presenting an Award of Excellence to Pastor Imabong Andrew-Essien for her contributions to the initiative’s success.