Six indigent students get scholarships to immortalise Okeke

Six indigent students, drawn from six communities in Enugu State, have been offered scholarships to university level, to immortalise the legacies of Late Louis Eko Okeke, father of the Imo State House of Assembly member, Ambassador Uju Onwudiwe (nee Okeke), who died in July 2015 at the age of 92.

The beneficiaries, who emerged through a screening process, were awarded at the maiden memorial lecture and empowerment programme, held at the Bishop Shanahan Hall, St. Mulumba Catholic Church, Enugu, with the theme: “Harnessing The Full Potentials Of Our People,” to honour the deceased, whose contribution to the growth of Ihe community in Agwu Local Council of the state, is said to be inestimable.

The recipients are-Onyedika Nwankwo (Umuonwo community); Chinaza Agu (Umuogbo community); Anikwe Chinecherem (Enugu-Agu community); Ndubueze Chidindu (Awkunano community); Regina Onuoha (Uhueze community); and Mmesoma Obiora (Amagu community), who according to Onwudiwe, were painstakingly searched.

Speaking at the occasion attended by a former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Otelemaba Daniel Amachree, a former Commander of Air Force Base, Jos, Air Commodore Chiemeka J. C. Ozoemene (rtd), among other government officials, Onwudiwe said the family of the late sage, decided to institute the annual lecture series, scholarship and empowerment programmes, to continue the works of their late father.

“It is the collective effort of the entire family. My sister came from America because of it. There are scores of children at various levels of academic pursuit that are still on scholarship today, courtesy of the foundation laid by our father,” Onwudiwe said.

In his keynote address, the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who commended the family for organising the lecture, eulogised the deceased for his contributions to his community, and the state in general, adding that he would continue to honour great achievers who played leading roles to the growth of the state.

The occasion featured a paper presentation on “Community Development: Ways, Essence and The Roles Of The Citizenry and Culture,” by a senior lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Rev. F.C Njoku.

Also, speaking, the chairman of the event, Ozoemene, said he witnessed how the deceased was passionate about the development of Ihe community, adding that he had to join the late community leader in renovating and rehabilitating schools that were dilapidated.

Encomium were poured on the deceased from all who attended the inaugural memorial lecture, penultimate Friday and the subsequent thanksgiving mass service on Sunday, which indicated that he was a renowned reputable entrepreneur, disciplinarian, devout Christian and a philanthropist.

Personalities, who attended the memorial outing at the instance of the deceased’s daughter and other family members, are state commissioner of police, Emma Ojukwu, among others.