The Special Assistant on New Media to Ebonyi State Governor, Leo Ekene, has announced that some Ebonyi scholars have commenced their fully funded PhD programmes at Robert Gordon University in Scotland.
According to him, the opportunity was made possible through the commitment of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to education and human capital development in the state.
The scholars had earlier completed their Master’s degree programmes before advancing to doctoral studies abroad. Their admission into the PhD programmes is seen as part of the state government’s efforts to promote academic growth and empower young people through quality education.
The students are expected to continue their studies in different academic fields during their stay in Scotland. The programme is also expected to help in developing more skilled professionals who can contribute positively to Ebonyi State and the country.
The scholars were encouraged and wished success as they began the new phase of their academic journey.
The Big Bet on Improved HDI
The initiative that sent the scholars from Ebonyi state overseas to study is part of a broader plan by the state government to increase the talent pool in the state. The Ebonyi state government has been criticised for abandoning its people and focusing on infrastructural projects that don’t reflect on the state’s Human Development Index (HDI).
The administration of the current Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, was marked by heavy infrastructural upgrades in the state, ranging from bridges to an airport. However, the average Ebonyi state person is still an economic migrant in neighbouring states, doing odd jobs and making minimum wage.
The Nwifuru Administration is looking to fix this gap by investing in the future of the people through education. These scholars are expected to come back to the state and give back to it after their extensive studies outside the state. An improved HDI for the state will reverse the economic migration of its indigenes, opening up its local economy through a growing and sustainable boost in the state’s small and medium enterprises.
