Ebonyi Governor Sends Second Batch of 98 Scholars to UK for Postgraduate Studies

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State on Monday bid farewell to the second batch of beneficiaries under the state’s overseas scholarship programme, as 98 indigenes prepare to embark on postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom.

The send-off ceremony was held at the Chuba Okadigbo International and Cargo Airport in Ezza, where the governor charged the scholars to excel and return to contribute to the state’s development.

“As a father, I release you today with love and prayer. As your governor, I send you forth with confidence and hope,” Nwifuru stated. He prayed for their safety and academic success abroad, urging them to justify the state’s investment in their education.

The governor explained that the initiative was born from his personal commitment to inclusive leadership. “I made a solemn decision of giving you what I did not have. The opportunity I missed, I will create for others,” he said.

According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Oketa, 92 of the scholars will depart in batches within the week, while six others will travel in September to align with the start of their academic programmes.

This second batch builds on a flagship initiative launched over a year ago, which sponsored 204 Ebonyi indigenes for Master’s and PhD programmes in the UK. The statement noted that many from the first batch graduated with distinctions.

The scholarship package covers full tuition, accommodation, and living allowances a structure designed to allow beneficiaries to “excel without distraction.”

The state government described the programme as a long-term strategy to strengthen human capital and drive sustainable socio-economic development in Ebonyi State.