By HILARY AKALUGWU

Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State has awarded scholarship for master’s degree and appointment to Miss Udoamaka Iyioke, a first-class degree graduate from University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

Chief Jude Asogwa, the Council Chairman announced this while presenting letter for the scholarship to Iyioke on Tuesday in Nsukka.

He said that her appointment as Special Assistance to the chairman on Administration was due to her specialty area which is relevant to council administration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that Iyioke made first class from the Department of Public Administration and Local Government in UNN 10 years ago.

Asogwa said that the gesture was in line with the mission and vision of Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State in giving priority to education and excellence.

He said that the governor since assumption of office on May 29, 2023, made education the priority of his administration by allocating 33 per cent of state annual budget to education.

“Because of Gov. Mbah’s love for education and encouraging of academic excellence, he allocates 33 per cent of state’s budgets to education, exceeding the United Nations 15 to 20 per cent budgetary allocation to education.

“Nsukka LG is following the footsteps of Mbah’s administration that is why we will continue to reward academic excellence.

“Iyioke who made first class degree from Department of Public Administration and Local Government in UNN 10 years ago, today has been appointed Special Assistance to Nsukka LG Chairman on Administration,” he said.

He explained that Iyioke having graduated with first class from Public Administration and Local Government is more competent and more qualified to serve as SA on LG administration.

“Is because of her course of study that made me to appoint her as Special Assistant, because she has adequate knowledge on local government administration.

“This gesture underscores our administration’s human-oriented governance, it also emphasises our support for education and youth empowerment at the local government level,” he said.

According to Asogwa, it was Chief Emeka Asogwa, from Wisdom Foundation and former Special Assistant on Youths Affairs to former Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, who located Miss Iyioke through her father.

Speaking, Emeka commended the LG boss for rewarding academic excellence and advised youths to always have faith in God who at His time intervenes in the situations of every human being.

“Like God has put smile on Iyioke’s face today, with hard work one day, God will also change your own situations and put smile on your face,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr Sylvanus Iyioke, the father of Udoamaka thanked God for using Emeka Asogwa to connect his daughter to her destiny helper.

He commended the LG chairman for the gesture and prayed God to bless him abundantly.

Responding, Udoamaka who is from Nru Community in Nsukka LG was visibly excited and overwhelm with joy said that she lacked words to express her appreciation to Emeka and LG chairman.

“I feel super excited on this appointment and scholarship offered to me by the chairman of Nsukka LG, I give God all the glory and pray that He continue to protect him,” she said. (NAN)