By CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE

The president general of Obosi Development Union (ODU), Barr. Chimezie Obi, has enjoined the Obosi people, who have influence and affluence to emulate Chief Philip Ikeazor's philanthropic gestures.

Chief Ikeazor (Izoma Obosi), a CBN deputy governor and member of the Umu Nnakwa family kindred in Obosi, Anambra state, has instituted a Marina Chikezie Ikeazor Scholarship Awards Scheme to honour his mother and assist brilliant students from Umu Nnakwa kindred in Obosi to achieve their educational aspirations.

During the presentation of cheques to the winners of the maiden edition of the Marina Chikezie Ikeazor scholarship awards scheme which took place at Mr. Igwebike Mbanefo's compound in Uruowulu village, Obosi on June 1, 2025, Barr. Obi enjoined other affluent and influential Obosi indigenes to toe the line of Chief Ikeazor regarding his philanthropic deeds.

Speaking further, Barr. Obi said he constituted the ODU Education Committee to tackle the matter of out-of-school children in Obosi upon his becoming the President General of ODU.

"We set up the ODU educational committee and tasked the members to ensure that children of school ages are in school during school hours instead of roaming the streets.

"Again, Chief Ikeazor (Izoma Obosi) has instituted a scholarship scheme for Umu Nnakwa youths to help them realize their potentialities via education.

"So I am expectant and hopeful that other wealthy people from other villages in Obosi should follow his example in that regard," Obi said.

More so, the vice-chairman of Umu Nnakwa family kindred, Nze Chitolue Eziamaka, thanked Chief Ikeazor, who is a member of the Umu Nnakwa family kindred, for the efforts he has been making to ignite the growth of the Umu Nnakwa family.

"I would like to express my gratitude to our chief sponsor, Chief Philip Ikeazor (Izoma Obosi) for his generosity. His commitment to the growth and well-being of our family has been tremendous and exemplary," Eziamaka said.

Again, in order to ensure that the emergence of winners of the Marina Chikezie Ikeazor scholarship awards scheme was based on merit; and that the scholarship tests were standard, the Umu Nnakwa scholarship committee partnered with the West Africa Examination Council to conduct the various tests.

Of the two winners of the maiden edition of the Marina Chikezie Ikeazor scholarship awards scheme, one is Chidinma Favour Belonwu, who is a secondary school student in Obosi. She scored 66% in the test, which was for her category.

The other winner was Somtochukwu Emmanuel Ikebuaku, who is an under-graduate student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Master Ikebuaku, who has a scholarly bent, scored 76% in the scholarship test for his category.

To continue enjoying the benefits of the Marina Chikezie scholarship awards scheme, which should run throughout the duration of their schooling, they are required to score grades, which are not below the stipulated benchmarks.

While Col. Sam Agbanusi, who represented Chief Philip Ikeazor at the event, presented a cheque of N2.5 million to Somtochukwu Ikebuaku, the Obosi town union leader, Barr. Chimezie Obi presented a cheque of N1.5 million to Chidinma Favour Belonwu.

Some of the important dignitaries who attended the event were Engr. Solormy Ochokwu, the Chairman of the Obosi Development Union Committee on Education; Hon. Anthony Amaifeobu, the Obosi Development Union Vice-President III; Nze Emma Okafor, the Secretary of Obosi Security Management and Finance Committee; members of Umu Nnakwa family kindred in Ire village, Obosi; and others.

• Chiedu Uche Okoye is a staff member of the Anambra State Ministry of Information.