From Chukwudera Eze, Enugu
It has always been the desire of the son of the traditional ruler of Mburubu Kingdom in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Prince Lawrence Eze, to help the less privileged.
Prince Eze who was disturbed by the poor rating of the United Nations Education Fund (UNICEF) on literacy level of the country has vowed to help his people make a difference.
He, therefore, believes that the war against illiteracy in the country and Enugu State in particular should not be left in the hands of the government alone.
To demonstrate this on September 16, at a colourful ceremony held at Community Secondary School, Mburubu, Enugu State, he put smiles on 11 brilliant students with scholarship award.
The lucky students will enjoy a comprehensive scholarship scheme from JS1 to SSIII.
Apart from taking care of all financial obligations of the students, the scholarship, he said, would capture the general upkeep of the students during the six-year period of their study.
Speaking on the occasion, the sponsor, Prince Eze, said the scholarship to the 11 brilliant students was to serve as lifeline for them to become whatever they wanted to be in future, the poverty level of their parents notwithstanding.
He believes that with a secondary school education the sky would be their limit, pointing out that education remains the greatest gift to any child.
The philanthropist, who was in company of his wife, Princess Lina Onyekachi Eze, stated that when the award committee selected the students in collaboration with the school principal who provided information on their academic performance, he had no choice than to go ahead with the project.
He disclosed that his action became inevitable in view of the poverty level of their parents, saying that he only wanted to give the students new hope.
According to him, “when I was in the primary school, I had two brilliant school mates who unfortunately could not go further because their parents were poor, one of them ended up as a firewood seller in the village while the other managed a little shop and died last year, partly as a result of hardship. If anyone with resources had come with help at that time, such as scholarship, they could have been more useful to society by now.
“If you invest millions and billions of naira to train your children in the best schools, and forget to touch on the lives of those around you, the children of your neighbours who are not richly endowed like you, could pose danger to society.”
He, therefore, called on the wealthy to give succour to the down trodden, promising to continue to embark on such humanitarian projects as his little contribution to give back to society part of his God’s blessings.
The principal of the benefitting school, Mr Robert Okorie, commended Prince Eze for his kind gesture, pointing out that the scholarship award was historic, as that was the first time any student of the school had received scholarship from anyone since its inception.
Okorie explained that the scholarship would reduce the burden of their parents, urging the beneficiaries to remain dedicated to their study and be of good behaviour to justify the confidence reposed in them.
Mr Elias Nwannaja, who spoke on behalf of the parents, expressed joy with the scholarship award and prayed God to bless Prince Eze and his wife with good health and more resources, as they continue to spray love on the needy.
They said the scholarship was a great relief for them.