The Ebonyi State Government, under Barrister Francis Nwifuru, is sponsoring students in the state to study overseas through an Overseas Scholarship Program.
On February 2, 98 scholars, the second batch of students selected for the Overseas Scholarships Program, departed for the United Kingdom to further their studies courtesy of their state government.
The send-off ceremony for the students took place at the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, Ezza, with the governor in attendance, as well as other dignitaries and newsmen. The development marks a significant move by the Ebonyi state government to invest in education, an important indicator of a robust Human Development Index (HDI).
Speaking at the sendoff ceremony, Nwifuru tasked the students to be good ambassadors of the state, carrying the culture, dreams and aspirations of Ndi Ebonyi. He thanked the Ministry of Tertiary Education and the State Scholarship Board for the transparent selection process and consistent monitoring of beneficiaries.
He informed the public that the first batch of students in the UK is currently excelling in their various fields of study and is on track to graduate with distinctions. The gesture by the Ebonyi government sparked excitement and added to the positive perception of the state, which started from the last administration led by Engr David Umahi.
Bridges for Ghosts
The previous administration in Ebonyi State invested heavily in the state’s infrastructure. Ex-Governor David Umahi, a trained engineer, built reinforced roads, flyovers and an international airport. While these were laudable achievements for the state, many critics believed that infrastructure was not the state’s immediate need and that Umahi’s approach to development was somewhat misplaced.
The arguments were backed up by evidence of empty streets and cities in the state’s capital, Abakaliki. The argument was that Ebonyi’s HDI was almost non-existent, and its people were mostly economic migrants to neighbouring states seeking employment and a means of livelihood.
Critics stated that Umahi was building a bridge for ghosts, as the people meant to enjoy the infrastructure are migrating to other states in search of opportunities. The Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Ezza was slagged off as a white elephant project, given the low number of projected customers from the state and the airport’s lack of traffic since its launch.
The consensus was that Ebonyi State needed to improve its HDI and the overall well-being of its people before any other developmental effort. The current administration in the state seems to have taken the advice.
A Pivot in Strategy and a Shot at Improved HDI
The Overseas Scholarships program by the Nwifuru administration is the first major education project in the state in recent years. Aside from the basic construction of schools to bolster grassroots education, there hasn’t been any major educational initiative in the state.
The UK scholarship program takes the pivot to push education in the state to the next level. If the program is sustained, Ebonyi State can cultivate an elite class of indigenes with stellar education, who will reinvest in the state after they become established.
The Foreign scholarship is a tested and trusted strategy for improving a society’s developmental index. In West Africa, colonial powers used this strategy to create an elite class that formed the base of a ruling class in each country.
The Three Core Pillars
The Overseas Scholarship Program by the current administration can fix Ebonyi’s HDI by directly targeting three core pillars: education, health, and standard of living.
- By sponsoring hundreds of indigenes for Master’s and PhD programs in high-demand fields like STEM, Agriculture, and Health Sciences, the state is building a high-level intellectual workforce. This act directly raises the knowledge component of the state’s HDI.
- Scholars trained in advanced medical research and healthcare management are bound to return and serve the state for five years. This brain gain is expected to modernise local hospitals, improving life expectancy, another key HDI metric
- The program targets talented youths from ordinary families, providing a pathway to high-income, globally competitive careers. Upon their return, these professionals stimulate the local economy, create jobs, and raise the average standard of living.
The Overseas Scholarships Program by the Ebonyi state government is a breath of fresh air and aligns with the immediate needs of Ndi Ebonyi. An increase in the state’s HDI would reduce economic migration and attract investment from other parts of the region and the country as a whole.
