100 Days In Office: Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo Gives Educational Grants For Masters And Doctorate & Approves Payment Of Monthly Bursaries 

The aim of the educational grant; ranging from N250,000 for Masters’ Degree students and N350,000 for Doctorate students, is to assist students both indigenes and non-indigenes in their academic endeavours, aligning with his administration’s educational agenda that prioritizes uplifting the underprivileged members of the society.

The proactive and result-oriented Council Boss, Chijioke Ihunwo, also emphasized that the bursary for undergradautes was also open to non-indigenes who live in the state, ensuring that educational support was not influenced by political or ethnic considerations, while announcing that another phase of the grant would take-off by September,  2025.

Prior to the bursary disbursement, a rigorous examination was conducted on 11th January, 2025, by the Standing Chairman of the Screening Committee,  Dr. Eziho Promise Ogele, a senior lecturer from the Department of Political Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, who noted the key challenges encountered during the selection process, which included; dfficulty in identifying indigenes and non-indigenes, and issues related to policy design and implementation.

The challenges, notwithstanding, an estimated 90% of successful applicants were present at the Council Quarters for the educational grants presentation ceremony.

During his remarks, the special guest of honour and immediate past Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Council, Hon. Chief Darlington Orji, Ph.D, applauded Amb Chijioke Ihunwo’s time-tested  educational initiative, stating that the bursary would amplify the Rivers State governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara’s efforts in supporting the academic pursuits of Rivers indigenes and non- indigenes alike. He however, advised beneficiaries to use the funds wisely to further their education and contribute positively to society.

A highly impressed Hon. Dr. Darlington Orji, who handed over the cheques to the qualified students, ensuring transparency in the disbursement process, was also taken round by Hon. Amb.Chijioke Ihunwo, on a facility tour inspection of two major ongoing projects; the Chairman’s lodge and state of the art administrative block of the Local Government council.

In addition to supporting the students, the Obio/Akpor Council Chairman, Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo, also extended financial support to Mr. Vincent Wagbara, a  former Chief Press Secretary of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, in appreciation of his contributions to the development and administrative stability of the Council during his days, even as the council boss donated a life support clutches to enhance his movement.

The disbursement of educational grants to successful Master’s degree  and doctorate students, including the bursary initiative for undergradautes, underscored the commitment of Chief Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo to educational development in Obio/Akpor LGA, ensuring that both indigenes and non-indigenes received equal opportunities to excel academically.

Below is the list of successful MSc and Ph.D applicants;

1. OKENE BEAUTY OGONDAH   – MSc

2. ORDU GOSPEL OMURUKA BLEU – PhD

3. CHUKWUMATI CHIBITAM ICHENDU – MSc

4. ECHENDU CHINWE NNEOMA – PhD

5. CHUKWUMATI ISRAEL CHISOM – MSc

6. ORJI AZUBUIKE STANLEY – PhD

7. EWHORLU PRINCESS NMERUKINI – MSc

8. WOPARA KATE OROMA – MSc

9. WOPARA NKEIRUKA – MSc

10. OVUNWO IHEANYICHUKWU PRINCEWILL – PhD

11. WOMADI CHIKEZI  – MSc

12. NKAKINI SAMUEL NDUBUISI – MSc

13. FAITH OHURU – PhD

14. CHUKU OGECHI PATIENCE – PhD

15. ALLBRIGHT AMADI – MSc

16. WORLU SONIA CHIMENE – PhD

17. AMADI QUEEN FRANK NMERUKINI – MSc

18. ADULPHUS NDUBUISI JUSTIN – PhD

19. AMADI IBUCHI EVANS – PhD

20. OKAFOR NKEIRUKA BRIGHT – MSc

21. AMADI NWENENDA EPHRAIM – PhD

22. ERIC OGECHI – PhD

23. ANGELA N. AMADI – MSc

24. AMADI-IWAI RUTH UKPENEOSUO – PhD

25. MALUMI HAPPINESS EDNA – PhD

26. OSIGWE UCHENNA FRANCIS – PhD

27. THANKGOD OWEN – MSc

28. EYINDA PRECIOUS EDE – MSc

29. UDOH HELEN EFFIOM – MSc

30. ANNASTHESIA AKAMZIRIMCHA WACHUKWU – MSc

31. CONSTANCE AGUMA AMADI – PhD

32. ICHECHI-AMADI FAVOUR CHINURUEKPEREM – MSc

33. CHINDA JOSEPHINE NUMO – MSc

34. AMADI OVUNDA ELIJAH – MSc

35. CHRISTIANA FRANCIS GEORGE – MSc

36. ENDURANCE IGWE – PhD

37. CHUKWUMATI NGOZI ANN – MSc

38. CHUKWUMATI QUEENETH OROMA – MSc

39. GOODLUCK OBILOR – MSc

40. AKELACHI DESTINEY OKECHUKWU – MSc

41. WENDY STANLEY – MSc

42. AMARACHI IHUNDA – PhD

43. AGOCHUKWU FAITH GOSPEL CHIDERA – PhD

44. OGOR PERFECT OMASIRICHI – PhD

45. JENNIFER CHINWE HUMPHREY – MSc

46. GLAD ONWUCHEKWA – PhD

47. NENGI IBIFURO JUMBO – MSc

48. MAUREEN OGHENEYOLE ENAIBRE – MSc

49. EJEKWU MARIA NNEOMA – MSc

50. WORGU ELIYAH – MSc

51. WOBO PRINCESS OYOBURUOMA – MSc

52. HAPPINESS OWHORJI – MSc

53. RISI NANCY OROMA – PhD

54. EZINNE MBACHU SANDRA – MSc

55. WODI CHIZOBA THERESA – PhD

56. WOMADI OGECHI FAITH – MSc

57. OGBONDA VICTOR CHIGUYARU – MSC

58. CHIMENEM-AMADI STELLA NNENE – PhD

59. IHEOMA LEONA HUMPHREY – MSc

60. BLESSING BEAUTY EMMANUEL – PhD

61. CHUKWUNNE KINGSLEY NWANWA – MSc

62. VINCENT WOGU PRECIOUS – MSc

63. CHINYERE MARYANN AGU – MSc

64. OGWUTUM MAUDLYN ELIJAH – PhD

65. GERSHON-NNA TREASURE HOMA – PhD

66. EZEUGO CHINYERE ROSELINE – PhD

67. CHUKU PRIYA HOMA – PhD

68. HABIGANUCHI OKEBURUNWO – PhD

69. ÒLUDI PEACE W. NWOKOLU – PhD

70. OKPARA MAXWELL OBIOMA – MSc

71. AMADI CHIMAOBI CHINEDUM – MSc

72. NKORO EMMANUEL – MSc

73. ASSOR VICTORY – MSc

74. ATUZIE QUEEN DESMOND – PhD

75. IHUNWO IBUCHIM NWENEE – PhD

76. ONONI-CHIOLU SONIA PROMETEE – MSc

77. DINNE HALLIDAY – PhD

78. IGOR AUGUSTINE MUSEPH – MSc

79. RANSOM GRACIOUS CHIMZI – PhD

80. CONFIDENCE ORDU – PhD

81. VICTOR IHUNDA N.W – MSc

82. WORI ERUCHI NICKY – MSc

83. ENYI THANKGOD – MSc

84. IGWE JOY BAKABA – PhD

85. WORLU CAROLINE NYEGE – PhD

86. IGNATUS JANE MGBECHIKANMA – MSc

87. ALEXANDER JANE – PhD

88. NELSON JON CHILE – MSc

89. AMADI CHIMENE THANKGOD – PhD

90. JOHNSON ONAJITE JEMIMA – PhD

91. AMADI ALERUCHI – PhD

92. OLUMIDE ROTIMI – MSc

93. ABOCHI INNOCENT ANARIOCHI – MSc

94. ARANNILEWA ANIKE OLUFUNKE – PhD

95. EMEKA ONYINYECHI CORDELIA – PhD

96. EBOCK OGBAN OGBAN – MSc

97. ORUKPETE ESGOGHENE MONICA – MSc

98. UMANAH MFONIDO GODFREY – MSC

99. MERCY OVUNDA – MSc

100. HARUNA IBRAHIM – MSc

Congratulations to them!

Meanwhile, the colourful event was well attended as 4th Estate Reporters spotted the following dignitaries but not limited to;

Hon. Chief Amb. Chijioke Ihunwo

Chairman, Obio/Akpor Local Government Council.

Hon. Mrs. Sophia Amarachi Nkoro, Vice Chairman,  Obio/Akpor Local Government Council.

Rt. Hon. Nyeche Jacob Owhonogu

Leader, Obio/Akpor 10th Legislative Council.

Hon. Prince Aruchi C. Amaechi, Ph.D

Secretary, Obio/Akpor Local Government Council.

Hon. Chizi Chuku

Chief of Staff, Obio/Akpor Local Government Council.

Hon.Chief Darlington Orji, Ph.D

Former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Council and pecial Guest of Honour .

Prof. Lawrence Chuku

Rt. Hon. Achor Nna, SA to Rivers State governor on Civil Society Relations,

Arch.Meme Samuel,

Hon. Jonathan Opurum,

Rt. Hon. Kelvin Nwanwa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Civil Society Relations.

Hon. Achor Nna, Former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA.

Professor Lawrence Chuku, alongside other distinguished guests, elected Councilors and staff of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council.