A total of 25 undergraduates from Nigeria’s five Southeast states have received N1 million scholarships each from the De Imperial Philanthropic Family (DIPF) in a move aimed at strengthening access to quality higher education in the region.
The beneficiaries, selected from among the top performers in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), secured admission into various universities across the country.
The scholarship recipients emerged after a competitive selection process that attracted over 1,000 applicants. The exercise was coordinated by Best Brain Contest, an organisation known for organising academic competitions and scholarship assessments.
Scholarship cheques were presented to the students on Thursday during an award ceremony held in Awka, Anambra State, in the presence of parents, members and associates of the philanthropic organisation.
Speaking at the ceremony, President of DIPF, Darlington Nwabunike, described the initiative as a strategic investment in rebuilding the Southeast’s human capital base.
He said the organisation believes that sustained investment in quality education is essential for achieving long-term regional development and economic growth.
Nwabunike disclosed that the group is currently supporting 1,012 scholarship beneficiaries across the Southeast and announced plans to expand the initiative nationwide in the coming years.
Beyond student scholarships, he added that DIPF is also focusing on improving teachers’ capacity through professional development programmes and exposure to modern teaching technologies.
He called on political and community leaders in the region to prioritise education as a critical pathway to securing the future of young people.
Chairman of the group’s Education Committee, Chikezie Okonkwo, said the beneficiaries distinguished themselves through discipline, resilience and outstanding academic performance.
He emphasised that the selection process was transparent and merit-based, urging the students to uphold the values of excellence, integrity and responsibility associated with the scholarship.
Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of Best Brain Contest, Frank Igbojindu, commended DIPF for its sustained commitment to youth empowerment through education, health and community development initiatives.
He encouraged well-meaning individuals and organisations in the Southeast to emulate the gesture by investing in education and rewarding academic excellence.
One of the beneficiaries, Lifted Emefiena, who scored 298 in JAMB and gained admission to study Medicine and Surgery at Abia State University, expressed appreciation for the support and pledged to maintain high academic standards.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of scholarship cheques and award certificates to the beneficiaries and their parents, marking a significant boost to educational support in the Southeast region.
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