Senator Umeh Disburses ₦64m Scholarships to 326 Students, Eases Tuition Burden Amid Funding Delays in Anambra State
Awka, Anambra State — Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Dr. Victor Umeh, OFR, has paid a total of ₦64 million as tuition support to 326 students from the district under his 2025/2026 Tertiary Education Scholarship Scheme, reinforcing his long-standing investment in education and human capital development.
The disbursement, which covers undergraduate and postgraduate students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria, marks the second phase of the scholarship programme launched in 2024. Senator Umeh said the beneficiaries were transparently selected from the 58 towns across the seven local government areas of Anambra Central, in collaboration with community leaders and key stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Senator Umeh disclosed that although official funds for the project were yet to be released, he opted to source alternative financing after appeals from students struggling to meet tuition deadlines.
“I could not ignore the distress calls of students whose academic futures were threatened by delayed school fees,” he said, stressing that education remains a critical pathway to lifting families and communities out of poverty.
The scholarship ceremony, held on January 13, 2026 at Canaan House, Awka, attracted beneficiaries and their families, student and youth organisations, traditional rulers, religious leaders, women leaders and community president generals from across the senatorial district.
Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, who attended as special guest, commended Senator Umeh for what he described as an “unprecedented and strategic investment in human capacity.” Obi noted that sustained support for education remains one of the most effective tools for long-term societal development.
“This initiative must be encouraged and sustained because its impact will extend beyond the beneficiaries to their families, communities and the wider society,” Obi said.
Several beneficiaries gave emotional testimonies, recounting how the scholarship rescued their academic pursuits and renewed hope for their future. Parents also expressed gratitude, saying the intervention relieved them of the emotional and financial strain of being unable to fund their children’s education.
The Manager of St. Patrick’s College, Awka, and Youth Chaplain of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Rev. Fr. Paschal Udo, described Senator Umeh as an exceptional humanitarian, revealing that students from St. Patrick’s College and Peter University are among those benefiting from his sponsorship. He praised the senator’s consistency in educational support, describing him as “intentional and magnanimous.”
Similarly, a beneficiary and Diocesan Public Relations Officer of the Anglican Students Fellowship, Awka Diocese, Mr. Dike Chigozie Alexander, said the scheme was non-discriminatory, noting that specific slots were allocated to Anglican students alongside others selected through community processes.
Secretary of the Victor Umeh Education Foundation (VUMEF), Sir Maurice Aneto, said the senator’s scholarship interventions date back to 1999 and have since evolved into a structured foundation that has produced hundreds of graduates in Medicine, Engineering, Law and other disciplines, including postgraduate degrees. He added that the foundation also supports students at the secondary school level.
Officials of the Federal University of Agriculture, Ishiagu, the federal agency overseeing the project, were present to supervise the exercise.
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The high point of the event was the instant disbursement of funds by Fidelity Bank, with beneficiaries receiving immediate credit alerts, prompting jubilation across the venue.
Community leaders and stakeholders assured Senator Umeh of continued support, noting that his education scholarship scheme stands out as a critical and lasting investment in the future of Anambra Central.
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