An undergraduate of Geology,
University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Paul
Chidozie,26, last Sunday, bagged a PhD
scholarship following a text message he sent
to the Leader, Enugu State House of
Assembly, Mr. Ikechukwu Ezugwu. In the last
three years, Ezugwu had marked his birthday
on November 24, with award of scholarships
to indigent students of various tertiary
institutions in the country.

It was like the Biblical lesson where Jesus
Christ treated 10 leprosy patients but only one
person went back to thank him. South East
Voice watched as tears of joy rolled down
freely on the House Leader’s chicks with
nostalgia, that out of 20 persons who
benefitted from the yearly scholarship scheme,
only Chiedozie deemed it fit to come back to
show appreciation and wish him many happy
returns on his birthday.
Ezugwu told South-East Voice that in the last
three years, he had marked his birthday by
reaching out to the less privileged.
“I decided to celebrate my birthday annually
by selecting two undergraduates from 10
wards in Udenu Local Government Area on
merit for the award of scholarships. This is
the third year into this scheme and I am bent
on expanding, so that more people would
benefit.
“Usually, November 24 is my birthday which I
have decided to be marking with giving of
awards. Out of the undergraduates that have
been receiving this, Chiedozie was the only
one who remembered to wish me well on my
birthday. I was so touched emotionally and
that singular gesture has earned him a full
scholarship to PhD level.
“Even if am not alive (God forbid) the
machinery to ensure that he studied to PhD
level has been put in place. My prayer is that
at some point in life, the beneficiaries will do
unto others, that which has been done unto
them. I urge them to prudently utilize the
funds to advance the course of their academic
pursuit. Shun vices that will detract them from
giving their career utmost attention.

The package
The 20 benefiting students received N50,000
each bringing the total amount to about N2
million doled out in this year’s scholarship
scheme alone.
Beneficiaries elated
Celestine Odo, from Obollo-Eke ward and a
student of the University of Nigeria Nsukka,
UNN, who was visibly elated prayed Almighty
God to expand and refill the pocket of the
House Leader even as he assured of prudent
deployment of funds. Also, Paul Chiedozie,
who was the major beneficiary revealed that
with the gesture from Hon Ezugwu,a jinx has
been broken in his family where none of the
members is, so far, a graduate.
“In my family, we do not have any graduate
both from my maternal side. Look at me now,
I am in third year in Geology Department and
already have scholarship to study to PhD
level. I want to assure my benefactor that I
will not disappoint him. I will not be
distracted in the campus.”