… Each student receives N150,000, naira
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor through the Justice, Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Awka Diocese in collaboration with the Help For All (HIFA) Initiative, Austria, a Non-Governmental Organization paid the tuition fees of 84 poor and Indigent students across all denominations in Anambra State, totalling twelve million six Hundred thousand Naira.
Declaring the cheques presentation open, during the weekend, at St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, Bishop Ezeokafor exhorted the beneficiaries to work harder in their academic pursuit, saying that the only meaningful and fastest way they can achieve greatness and attained their full potentials was through access to quality education,
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that
Ezeokafor urged them to be focused and resolute in their quest for a better and a greater future, emphasizing that without education they may not get to that height they so desired, adding that only the hardworking students would continue to enjoy the tuition fees payment package while the unserious ones would no longer take part in it.
The Prelate who was represented by the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Charles Ndubuisi accompanied by the Education Secretary of Catholic Diocese of Awka, Rev. Fr. Maximus Okonkwo charged the students to take their studies seriously and guard against distractions and anything that would deny them the opportunity of enjoying the largesse as well as losing track and focus.
The Cleric admonished students to take their education seriously and maintain good conduct as well.
Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries at JDPC, the Executive Director of JDPC, Awka Diocese and the Chairman Anambra State HIFA Board, Rev Fr Levi Ukor said that they worked in partnership with HIFA Austria, noting that the Organization was formed and funded by retired teachers in Austria.
‘The sponsors are interested in your results; your performance and reports from the school authority. These are the things that are encouraging the sponsors to increase the money instead of giving out the usual 125,000 Naira they are giving to each student.The total money we are spending this year is 12,0600,000.
“Twelve million six hundred thousand Naira. Last year we spent less. So, it is not a small money. We want people to know that the Church is spending this huge amount of money on Education,’ Ukor said.
The Executive Director thanked Bishop Ezeokafor for seeing that there was a need to help indigent people in securing their future through continuous education.
Fr Ukor who asserted that the Bishop could have channelled the funds to other areas but decided to always help the indigent, added that it was a long-standing event that did not begin this year.
He, however, added that the NGO moved a notch further by increasing the fund to closer to 13 million Naira.This he said was in recognition of the economic situation in the country.
In cautioning parents to make judicious use of the fund, the Director also challenged the students to always improve in their academic excellence, stating that it was the only way to appreciate HIFA and the Bishop.
According to Rev Fr Ukor, they scout for indigent students yearly after which the lucky ones would be thorough investigated to ascertain all facts before compiling and submitting their names to HIFA Austria for onward release of funds, noting that they also engage in building and renovation of schools, hospitals and that they were into provision of transportation to ease the stress and hardship occasioned by lack of adequate vehicles and means of transportation.
The Director of JDPC, Awka Diocese stated that they do not pay only tuition fees they equally pay for medical bills of the destitute and also train them on many skills acquisitions, saying that the programme was an annual event and that many indigent students and gifted children had been saved and empowered through the
Initiative.
Rev Fr Ukor who said that Organization was Co-founded by Adolf Paster and Rev Fr Aaron Ekwu (Late) and currently managed by Adolf Paster’s daughter noted that it was designed basically to cater for the poor in society and also help in closing the gap in infrastructure and other areas of life.
He announced that HIFA Austria was already in 6 states in Nigeria and had been carrying out back to back humanitarian services in Anambra State and Nigeria, emphasizing that the students were drawn from different schools in Anambra State not minding their religious or denominational inclinations and faith, saying that some were picked from schools in Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha, Ozubulu, Ihiala, Ekwuluobi and Orumba, among others, adding that the beneficiaries were gotten through the applications submitted during their monthly meetings.
In his remark, the JDPC Diocesan Chairman, Hon. Paulinus Adinuba called parents not to use any difficulty not using the money given for any other purpose except for the school it is meant for.
ANN gathered that N150,000, 00 naira was given to each of the students from different schools.
The visibly happy beneficiaries collectively appreciated the bishop for his kind gesture and promised to improve in their academics so as to be shining lights to others.
