SENATOR Theodore Orji representing Abia Central has kicked off his N24 million worth of tertiary education scholarship awards with the disbursement of funds to the first set of beneficiaries drawn from the six local councils that make up Abia Central senatorial district.

The selection of the pioneer 60 beneficiaries at the rate of 10 from each of the six local councils namely: Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Ikwuano, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma Ngwa
from the large numbers of competing applicants, was effected by a Scholarship Committee constituted by Senator Orji, himself.

The committee chairman is the former state Local Government /Chieftaincy Affairs Commissioner, Chief Emma Nwabuko.

Speaking while disbursing the cheques on behalf of the Senator to each of the 60 first beneficiaries, Chief Nwabuko said half of them were indigents, while others qualified by their high scores.

Nwabuko indicated that where the beneficiaries utilise the scholarships satisfactorily and appropriately, the Senator might be motivated to increase the number from the 60 per year for four years to an undisclosed number.

He, therefore, urged the beneficiaries who got N100, 000 cheque each to cover one year, to study hard to justify the award, adding that one of the strict conditions for retaining the award is shunning cultism and other social vices.