A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Gregory Iyke Foundation has launched an education intervention scheme in Abia State for students at all levels of education.
The NGO founded in 1991 by Professor Gregory Ibe, the Chancellor, Gregory University, Uturu (GUU) had been involved in humanitarian services in the areas of education, health, social welfare and youth empowerment.
The official flag-off of the intervention tagged, Prof. Gregory Ibe Education Intervention Scheme took place at the Christ the King Cathedral (CKC) Aba.
The event which marked the beginning of the education scheme in Abia South Senatorial District saw the distribution of thousands of exercise books to schools in the six Local Government Areas in the Zone.
Speaking during the launching of the scheme Rev Sleek Ogwo, Director of Communication and Strategy, Gregory Iyke Foundation said that the intervention scheme is in three categories.
Ogwo said that the three categories are: distribution of textbooks and exercise books to all the schools in the three Senatorial Zones, the award of scholarships from first year to graduation year in the university in some specified disciplines and the online entrepreneurship training conducted by Prof Gregory Ibe.
"The founder of our foundation is passionate about education. So, anyhow he can express that passion he'll utilize.
"All Nigerians are benefiting from his scholarship but the majority of the beneficiaries are Abian indigenes. However, we're focusing on indigent people.
"Interested students must apply for it, we'll interview the the person and if he qualified we'll take him. The major criteria are that the applicant must be qualified and must be indigent to merit it."
He said that in 2022, the foundation will be dealing with over 350 people, adding that some beneficiaries come by nomination through some stakeholders in Abia State who nominate the indigent people in their constituents.
"Last year was 120 persons. What informed the University Scholarship Scheme is that Prof Ibe wants everyone to gain education and also into many disciplines that people are not opting for regularly.
"He wants to bridge those skills gap in those disciplines. The response has been unbelievable. These programmes run in years into millions."
Professor Augustine Uwakwe, the Vice-Chancellor, Gregory University Uturu urged the students to take the opportunity they will get from the scholarship seriously, as education is the best gift one can get.
He however charged the people of Abia State to also appreciate the founder of the foundation whom he described as a gift to the state.
"I wish Greg is from my state, Imo. Abia doesn't know what you have. He wants to make sure that every student from Primary to Secondary is equipped with writing materials.
"If you're not educated, you'll be trampled upon and many of you here will still benefit from his Scholarship scheme. He has enough to give out."
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