Orji awards scholarship to 240 students

Decries Decreasing Allocations to Education Sector Senator Theodore Orji representing Abia Central District has expressed worry over the decreasing yearly budgetary allocations to Nigeria’s education sector, describing the sector as the most important.

Orji said budgetary allocation to the sector dropped from N492 billion in 2015 to N369 billion in 2016, adding that these allocations are less than the UNESCO recommendation of 26 per cent of education budget. Orji said: “It is imperative to prepare intellectuals who will proffer everlasting solution to Nigeria’s economic and political challenges and I want to ensure that my constituency in Abia State produces majority of those future intellectuals.”

Towards producing these future intellectuals, the Senator, last year, endowed a yearly scholarship scheme for indigent undergraduates of his Constituency comprising six LGAs namely: Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Ikwuano, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma Ngwa. While 60 (10 from each LGA) pioneer beneficiaries were selected and awarded the scholarships last year, 240 (40 per LGA) were being processed for selection for the second phase and would be issued their Cheques next month.q