An Enugu transporter and one of Nigeria’s foremost transport mogul, Evangelist, Sam Maduka Onyishi, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Peace Group of Companies, has donated the sum of N50 million to the University of Nigeria to assist in the erection of ultra modern world class edifice to house the University’s Institute of African Studies.

The business magnate who presented the cheque to the vice chancellor of the Institution, Professor Bartho Okolo during a courtesy visit, said the donation was in appreciation of the privilege and honour given him by the University for allowing him to endow a N100 million Scholarship Foundation in the Institute of African Studies; christened Sam Maduka Onyishi African Entrepreneurship Foundation (SAMOAEF).

Evangelist Onyishi was on courtesy visit to the University boss as a prelude to the public presentation of cheques to 100 winners of the Foundation’s 2011 Scholarship awards specially designed to give succor to indigent and disabled students across the country and Africa.

Receiving the cheque, the visibly elated Vice Chancellor, Professor, Bartho Okolo expressed marvel at the amount and thanked Evangelist Onyishi for his magnanimity, adding that the amount would sufficiently go along way in ensuring a considerable execution of a befitting structure for the Institute of African Studies.
He noted Evangelist Onyishi’s robust spirit of philanthropy and disclosed that as a student in 1998, the donor single handedly built a staff office for the university.

Stressing the urgent need to have more of the like of Onyishi in Nigeria, Professor Okolo called on other wealthy Nigerians to rise up to the challenge of their duty as citizens of Nigeria by emulating Onyishi’s example.
In a brief remark before the commencement of the presentation of cheques to the 2011 awardees, Evangelist Onyishi said, the awardees owed him no gratitude, that he was obliged to do what he was doing because it was a fulfillment of his covenant with God.
Onyishi said it gives him joy to help the poor because he was born to a poor family and has made it a point of duty to help the poor to have access to education.

The Commissioner for Education, Enugu state, Prof. Ortuanya, the Mayor Nsukka City Council, Barr. Tony Ugwu, the SSA to Enugu State governor Barrister Sullivan Chime on youth empowerment, in their various remarks praised Onyishi for his unequalled philanthropy and called on the awardees to utilize their bursary judiciously to further their academe pursuit.

The director Institute of African Studies, prof. Sam Onuigbo expressed joy at the donors gesture and assured that the Institute’s partnership with him, would continue to grow by lips and bound in the interest of academic development of students.
Also in a brief remark, the Secretary of the Foundation, Dr. Casmir Ani said the partnership between Evangelist Onyishi is an example of partnership that works.

Earlier, while declaring open the presentation ceremony held at the Princess Alexandria Auditorium, the university Librarian, Dr. Charles Omegwu said Onyishi’s N50 million donation remained a landmark in the history of the institution’s Alumni. He urged the awardees to ensure they used their bursary judiciously

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