One of Nigeria’s foremost Philanthropists and Business mogul, Sir Emeka Offor has donated a ₦150,000,000 to boost research and Scholarly enterprises in two universities.
Presenting the money at a post convocation dinner held in his honour at the weekend, Sir Offor announced the beneficiaries as the University of Nigeria Nsukka, (UNN) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka.
According to him, the Endowment is made as a financial donation aimed at enhancing research activities and scholarly enterprise that will have a lasting impact in the Faculty of Business Administration of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
He said; “The Endowment is in the sum of ₦100,000,000 only and shall be known as Sir Emeka Offor Foundation Endowment Fund Number 2.”
Similarly, the ₦50,000,000 Endowment is made as a Financial Donation aimed at enhancing research activities and scholarly enterprise that would have a lasting impact in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (UNIZIK) Awka.
He noted that, “The Endowment is in the sum of ₦50,000,000 only and shall be known as Sir Emeka Offor Foundation Endowment Fund
Number 1.”
Women and Children
The Business mogul further requested that the areas of research and investigation should have focus and relevance to women, children, widows, children with special needs and other vulnerable members of the society.
He believed that this relationship between the two Universities and Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, should help to come up with sustainable models that shall mitigate the challenges of vulnerability, improved policy formulation in the social investment space and creating equal opportunities through timely and measured interventions.
Part of modalities for the Endowment Fund at the UNN and UNIZIK include, the setting up of distinct committees between the Universities and the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, for effective management of the Endowment Fund in both Universities.
Sir Emeka Offor also confirmed that this gesture in the academia, is a desire towards supporting higher education in Nigeria and strengthening the bond of friendship between the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation and Nigerian Universities.
Funding Education
Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, used the occasion to urge private individuals and philanthropists to assist the government in funding education in the country.
The Minister was speaking as a special guest at the dinner organised in honour of Sir Emeka Offor and wife, Dr. Adaora Offor, who were honoured with doctorate degrees.
They were awarded the degrees in Business Administration and Social Advocacy (Honours) respectively by the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
According to the Minister, though the government had spent so much in funding education, private individuals and philanthropists needed to emulate what Emeka Offor and wife had done through their Foundation, to support education.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
