Niger Delta
80 Niger Delta Students Get NGO Scholarship
The Chris Nkwonta Foundation, an NGO, has released N12 million for the award of scholarships to 80 Niger Delta youths.
The Coordinator of the Foundation, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwankwo, said that the scholarship would help curb youth restiveness in the Niger Delta region.
Nwankwo was speaking recently in Akwete, headquarters of the Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia, at a workshop held for beneficiaries of the scholarship.
He said that scholarship would also help turn the minds of the youths away from violent crime.
The beneficiaries include 20 university students spread across the country and 60 from other institutions of higher learning in designated centres in the Niger Delta region.
The coordinator said that the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Chief Chris Nkwonta, was denied many good things of life while growing up, and did not wish youths to suffer the same fate.
Nwankwo said that each university scholarship was worth N300,000 per year and that each beneficiary must not score below 3.5 cumulative point average at the end of any semester.
He also said that each polytechnic scholarship had the same annual cash award with that of the university students and that each recipient must not score below 3.00 average point in a semester.
The coordinator said that high academic performance was a condition for each beneficiary to continue to enjoy the scheme.
He further said that the conditions would ensure that those, who benefited from the Foundation’s scholarship programme, were not only grounded in their chosen areas of endeavor, but were also responsible citizens.
Nwankwo said that the skills acquisition programmes were basically for indigent youths, who must exhibit high sense of commitment and responsibility.
He said that each of them would be given N200,000 as take-off grant at the end of the two-year training programme to be financed by the foundation.
The coordinator said that it had also concluded arrangement to award 150 secondary school scholarships to deserving pupils in the area.
He said that the scholarships, which would be available for students in federal and good private schools, would place high premium on efficiency and high standards.
He urged youths in the area to make maximum use of the opportunity to better their lives.
Mr Boniface Nwaigwe, one of the beneficiaries commended the Foundation for the gesture and gave the assurance that they would make good use of the opportunity given to them.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.
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