Professor Leonard Uguru Begins Scholarship Support for Indigent Students Ahead of Foundation Launch
Ewa Nkechi
Professor Leonard Chukwuma Uguru, Ebonyi State Commissioner for Finance and former Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Ebonyi State Chapter, has commenced a scholarship support initiative aimed at assisting indigent students in Abakaliki Local Government Area to pursue higher education.
Although the scholarship scheme is yet to be formally unveiled, Professor Uguru has already paid school fees for selected undergraduates who were unable to meet their financial obligations, enabling them to continue their studies.
Beneficiaries include students of Ebonyi State University (EBSU) and other institutions, cutting across professional and non-professional courses, including Law and Mass Communication.
The initiative, which will be officially launched on May 10, 2026, to mark Professor Uguru’s 50th birthday, will be institutionalised under a foundation to be inaugurated the same month. A Board of Trustees will be constituted to oversee the full implementation and sustainability of the programme.
Speaking on the motivation behind the gesture, Professor Uguru, a former Bursar of Ebonyi State University, said his background as an academic and administrator inspired his passion for supporting undergraduates, particularly those from poor backgrounds.
“My experience as an academic scholar made me develop interest in helping undergraduates gain admission and also assist them to pay their school fees. In the last admission alone, about 25 students gained admission through my support, but I discovered that some of them could not even pay their school fees or register. That is why we decided to select some of them to kick-start the scholarship,” he explained.
He noted that while the scheme is currently unofficial and being implemented in phases, several students had benefited even before now, including Law students in 400 and 500 levels, with some beneficiaries already graduated. “For now, about eight students are benefiting, and more are expected. By May, we will have a full-fledged scholarship scheme managed by a Board of Trustees. We intend to disburse funds to beneficiaries in the first week of January every year to assist them in paying their school fees,” Uguru added.
One of the beneficiaries, Mbamu Nnemeka, a Law student, expressed gratitude for the support, describing it as a major relief in his academic journey. “I am so excited to be one of the beneficiaries of this empowerment. This gesture will go a long way in helping me pursue my academic goals. I promise not to fail my benefactor and to put in my best,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Dike Amarachi, a 100-level Mass Communication student of Ebonyi State University, said the scholarship came at a critical time, following the death of her father and her mother’s inability to shoulder the financial burden alone. “This scholarship will help me a lot. My mother is a teacher and could not afford the school fees. If I have the means in the future, I will also help others, especially orphans,” she said.
A stakeholder from the area, Comrade Nweovu Innocent, commended Professor Uguru for what he described as a clear demonstration of his commitment to education and youth development.
“Professor Uguru is an academician who wants the younger generation to do better than him. This scholarship is a statement of his character. The reward of giving is higher responsibility, and we believe God will continue to lift him,” he said.
He advised the beneficiaries to remain focused, disciplined and hardworking, stressing that the opportunity should not be taken for granted.
The scholarship scheme is expected to expand significantly following its official launch in May, reinforcing Professor Uguru’s vision of using education as a tool for empowerment and sustainable development in Ebonyi State.
