*JOHNSON ANDIAMBEY EBOKPO’S EDUCATIONAL GRANT: A PARADIGM SHIFT TOWARDS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE*
*By Ovat Lawrence*
It is indeed a new dawn in the educational future of our dear State as the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo disbursed grants to 65 students of various Tertiary Institutions to ease off the current economic strain in the nation.
The 65 students were carefully selected across the eleven Council wards of Obubra Local Government Area with few considerations from other LGAs in the State.
Speaking at the event organised in honour of the students/beneficiaries, Hon. Ebokpo stated that the grant was to support the students in their academic pursuit. He admonished them to be serious with their studies, emphasizing that education is one of the key drivers to economic prosperity and greatness.
Going down memory lane, Ebokpo recounted relatable challenges he encountered as a student; the times he could not afford text books and the struggles to pay tuition fees. According to him, through divine Providence they got help from a church who gave seed funds that assisted his mother set up a Coca Cola mini depot which helped him to scale through the academic hurdles with a strong resolve to always reach out to the less privileged, vulnerable,orphans and needy, as much as possible.
The Commissioner who expressed appreciation to his beloved Wife for her support over the years, disclosed that such gesture towards students is not a new development but has been their practice for more than 10 years. ” I won’t back down. I will continue to touch lives as the Lord Lives” , Ebokpo assured.
He used the occasion to share the message of salvation in Christ Jesus, encouraging the students to accept and preach Christ in their various campuses, desist from evil and focus on their academic activities, as education is a well known pathway to success.
The event was well attended by many personalities including APC stalwarts, Opinion Leaders from Obubra LGA and beyond; all expressed gratitude and poured accolades on the person of Commissioner Ebokpo.
Hon. Ernest Irek, Prof. Enang Erena, Chief.Barr . Mrs Margaret Ebokpo, Dr. Atan Egor, Bishop Chris Obasse, Chief Mark Nomba Ayo, Maurice Ikora , Sunday Ayang, Joseph Eyaba , Pst. David Irek, Mr Oden Obeten Union Bank Manager , Mrs Rose Achigbe and Mr. Innocent Ogbin who chaired the event took turns in advising the beneficiaries as well as encouraging Obubra sons and daughters with capacity to tow the same path for the rapid development of Obubra.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, the President of Federation of Obubra Students Association,Mr. Egbara Peter Eyoma thanked the Commissioner for his benevolence and pledged to live up to expectation.
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman, Organizing Committee of Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo’s Education grant , Dr. Cletus Omono thanked the Commissioner for conceiving such humanitarian ideas, noting that this feat shall stand the test of time, while promising to set up a monitoring committee to oversee the academic affairs of the beneficiaries in their various institutions of learning, and give adequate feedback to the Commissioner.
The high point of the event was the presentation of an award of excellence to the Commissioner by students from the faculty of social sciences, University of Calabar led by the President, Miss Hope Francis. She stated that the award was in recognition of Ebokpo’s excellent performances within one year in office and his act of kindness shown to students in different fora.
She prayed God for protection, wisdom and guidance upon the Commissioner; to deliver more democratic dividends to Cross Riverians. View more photos and videos 👇
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/FF2SqLoCoEcgshJP/?mibextid=oFDknk
Leave a Reply