By Ubong Sampson – Uyo
It was an emotional moment for four law graduates of the University of Uyo set to leave for the Nigerian Law School, as the Ini Ememobong Foundation offered them the full School fees, making them latest beneficiaries of the foundation’s tertiary education support scheme, targeted at rewarding excellence among students of select tertiary institutions.
Making the presentation on Monday to the students, two of who are visually impaired, Initiator of the foundation, Comrade Ini Ememobong held that one of the most potent strategies in discouraging vices is to encourage excellence, notably, academic excellence.
Comrade Ememobong who was in active law practice before his appointment into the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council, admitted that his passion for education drives him to celebrate academic achievers like the record making first class law graduate from the University of Uyo, Miss Ikanna Okim, who is among the beneficiaries of the grant.
Two visually impaired students among the four, Aniekan Jonah Akpan and Michelle Anthony Joseph, who were earlier billed to receive N100,000 each, were given additional N200,000 each, as Comrade Ememobong, out of kindness, announced the increment of their grant to N300,000 each to serve as full payment of their law school fees.
Among the four beneficiaries also included an indigent student, Mfonabasi Ibanga Ekanem, who equally received N300,000 grant for full payment of school fee, a gesture she said will never be forgotten.
In their responses, the beneficiaries who could not hold back emotions, appreciated the Ini Ememobong Foundation for the show of love and encouragement and offered good prayers for the Foundation and Comrade Ini Ememobong, asking for boundless blessings upon him and his family.
Receiving the Foundation and the Beneficiaries at the end of the exercise, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Aniedi Ikpang expressed satisfaction at the thoughtfulness of the Foundation noting that it was the first time an Alumnus of the Faculty of Law returned to make impact on the faculty in the manner the Ini Ememobong Foundation has done through the payment of the Law School fees for the Beneficiaries. He charged the beneficiaries to ensure they do well in the law School to justify the investment they’ve received. Dr Idorenyin Eyo and Dr Michael Hanson, both excellent lecturers in the Faculty of Law also appreciated the Foundation for their sacrificial gesture and urged the students to ensure that it doesn’t go to waste.
The Ini Ememobong Foundation, for years has been rewarding academic excellence through its different regular educational grants to deserving tertiary education students, a step the foundation believes is directed towards development through education.
It can be recalled that the foundation is sponsoring two pharmacy students at masters level, donated tuition feee support to over 100 undergraduates in different departments, under their Udom and Martha Academic Excellence Scheme .
