The Deputy Chief Whip of the 10th Senate and Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has awarded a scholarship of 100m naira to over 554 students of tertiary institutions.
The amount awarded to each student varies as they are in different courses.
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The scholarship is not limited to the people of his constituency, as it cuts across the entire state. Some Northern and southern Nigerian were also beneficiaries of the scholarship.
Nwebonyi said he has been trying to be the best senator so far in the history of Ebonyi North senatorial district.
Speaking during the scholarship award ceremony at his residence in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi North lawmaker said the programme, which has cost over ₦100 million, is personally funded by him and his wife and is not connected to any political ambition.
According to Nwabonyi, the scholarship initiative began in 2015, years before he ventured into politics, and has continued to expand annually in line with his vision of making higher education accessible to indigent students across his constituency.
“Today, we have 554 students on scholarship, and we hope to increase the number. Whenever we discover that a particular community has few or no beneficiaries, we will identify indigent students from that area and bring them into the programme,” he said.
The senator revealed that the scheme produces more than 100 graduates annually, adding that education remains one of the most effective tools for lifting families out of poverty.
Addressing concerns about the source of funding, Nwabonyi attributed his financial capacity to investments in agriculture, construction, and legal practice.
“I am the biggest yam farmer in Ebonyi State. In ranch farming, I rank among the top. I also own a construction company, while my wife supervises many of the projects.
The scholarship fund does not come from government allocations; it comes from me and my wife,” he stated.
Nwabonyi dismissed claims that the scholarship programme was politically motivated, insisting that his commitment to education predates his election to the Senate.
“One of the students I picked up in secondary school is just months away from becoming a medical doctor. This programme is not because I am contesting any election. It started years ago and will continue even after my tenure in the Senate,” he said.
The lawmaker also highlighted several infrastructure projects he has undertaken across the Ebonyi North Senatorial District, including roads, bridges, culverts, schools, and other rural development projects.
He claimed that many of the projects were executed using his personal resources due to delays in the release of government funds.
“Whether government funding comes or not, anything I promise my people must be fulfilled. If there are delays, I will finance the projects with proceeds from my farms and businesses because I am in a hurry to deliver development to my people,” he declared.
Describing leadership as “a competition of good works”, Nwebonyi urged public office holders to focus on tangible projects that directly impact the lives of the people.
He emphasised that his ultimate goal is to ensure that every family in Ebonyi North Senatorial District can boast of having at least one graduate, noting that education remains the foundation of economic prosperity and social transformation.
In a bold challenge to his colleagues across the country, the senator maintained that his record of achievements remains unmatched.
“No senator in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has matched the quality and volume of projects I have delivered within three years. If there is anyone who has done more, let them challenge me,” Nwabonyi asserted.
He reaffirmed his commitment to education, infrastructure development, youth empowerment, and agricultural support, pledging to continue serving as “an agent of change” for his people and future generations.
One of the beneficiaries of the scholarship, Jeremiah Okeda, who will be graduating from medicine and surgery, said Nwebonyi was a godsend to his educational journey.
The highlight of the occasion was the distribution of a tricycle to a less privileged person.
