Former Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Ebonyi State, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, has commended the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru for its investment in education and human capital development through the state’s overseas scholarship programme.
Onwe described the initiative as a far-sighted investment in the future of Ebonyi State, saying exposure to advanced education and specialised training abroad would help strengthen the state’s intellectual and professional capacity.
The former commissioner made the remarks while featuring as a guest on “Forum,” an audience-participatory programme of Radio Nigeria Unity FM, Abakaliki, where the theme of discussion was “The Value of Overseas Scholarship for Ebonyi State.”
He said the scholarship programme, if sustained and strategically managed, could help transform Ebonyi into a major reservoir of highly skilled manpower capable of contributing to the development of the state, Nigeria and the global community.
While acknowledging the infrastructural development recorded under successive administrations in the state, Onwe maintained that the long-term value of quality and transformative education remained unparalleled.
He also commended the Ebonyi State Government for establishing three additional state-owned universities, describing the development as a significant step towards expanding access to tertiary education and strengthening the state’s intellectual foundation.
Onwe further praised Governor Nwifuru for sustaining the administration’s education agenda, citing the recruitment of more than 2,000 teachers and other interventions in the sector as evidence of efforts to reposition education and improve the quality of human capital available to the state.
However, he called on the state government to ensure the continuity and sustainability of the overseas scholarship programme, while putting in place effective mechanisms to monitor beneficiaries and maximise the long-term benefits of the initiative.
He stressed the importance of basing the programme on clearly defined priorities, academic excellence, accountability and areas of critical manpower needs.
According to him, such an approach would ensure that beneficiaries acquire relevant knowledge and expertise that could be deployed to address some of Ebonyi State’s developmental challenges upon completion of their studies.
Other contributors to the programme also expressed support for the scholarship initiative.
They included Daniel from Ezza North Local Government Area, Isaac Ogbaga from Izzi, Nnamdi from Afikpo, Mary Ituma from Onueke and Eugene Nwoba from Abakaliki.
The contributors commended the government’s investment in overseas education and called for further strengthening of the programme.
They argued that access to world-class education and specialised training would broaden the intellectual horizons of young Ebonyians, improve their competitiveness in the labour market and help produce highly skilled professionals capable of contributing meaningfully to development in Nigeria and beyond.
Onwe said the enduring legacy of government should not be measured solely by the physical structures it constructs, but also by the quality of people it develops, equips and prepares to drive future development.
