The Chief of Staff to the Abia Governor, Dr Caleb Ajagba, on Monday, launched free 2026 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) registration and bursary award to support indigent students in his Nsulu clan.
In a speech at the event held in his Umuezegu country home in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Ajagba said that the scheme “is a personal intervention and not government-funded”.
He said that the gesture was meant to ease financial burden on families, expand access to tertiary education for deserving youths, in order to empower them to ”reshape their future meaningfully”.
“What I am doing is not being sponsored by government – no.
“Even though I’m working in government, it has not given me a dime to give.
“I’m just doing it because I feel there is need to do that.
“This is my own little contribution. Of course, it’s known to His Excellency.
“It’s for us to make sure that we extend opportunities to our young ones.
“It is not an additional income to the beneficiaries.
“It is something that has been conceived in order to offer support to those who actually need it,” Ajagba said.
He further said that the free JAMB registration would allow candidates to sit for the exam without financial stress, while the bursary award would help undergraduates meet their essential academic needs.
He described education as critical for sustainable development and a secure future.
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He warned that the support was meant “strictly for those in genuine need” and could be withdrawn, if abused.
“If we discover that you are given this kind of assistance and you don’t take your studies seriously, of course, it will be withdrawn.
“The Bible says, ‘To whom much is given, much is also expected from’,” he said.
Ajagba further disclosed plans to extend support to youths interested in vocational training, entrepreneurship, and other empowerment programmes.
He said that he envisioned a community where every household would produce, at least, one graduate and one millionaire in future.
He reaffirmed the commitment of Gov. Alex Otti’s administration to youth empowerment and human capital development, adding that investment in education is an investment in the future of Abia.
He said that the Abia Leadership Academy and TechRise initiatives clearly demonstrated the State Government’s commitment to equipping youths with leadership skills, digital expertise and entrepreneurial capacity for sustainable development.
In an interview with newsmen, some beneficiaries, including Martins Jacob, Chinaemenma Amajuoyi, Favour Nmesomachi, and Dickson Success, expressed gratitude to God and Ajagba for the intervention.
They said that the support had given them hope and pledged to excel in their examination.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 180 undergraduates and young school leavers seeking admission into institutions of higher learning benefitted from the initiative.
(NAN)
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