UGWUMBA LAUNCHES EDUCATION TRUST FUND IN ISIALA NGWA SOUTH LGA
BY BENJAMIN KALU, UMUAHIA
Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis Launches Education Trust Fund In Isiala Ngwa South LGA, with a Cheque of N2m as take off grant, Promises to Launch Artisans Initiative Next Year
The member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis popularly known as ‘Ceaser’ is the rave of the moment in Abia State following the successful launch of his Ugwumba Education Trust Fund in fulfilment of his campaign promise aimed at eradicating illiteracy in his constituency.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Sir Gabriel Onyendilefu lauded the member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis (Ceaser) for the initiative adding that it would help the people, especially those from the poor homes to go to school.
He described initiative of Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis, as a good one, which people can stand a chance, to actualize their educational ambition.
He called on all the illustrious sons and daughters of Isiala Ngwa South LGA, lovers of education and other public-spirited individuals to strongly throw their weight behind the Ugwumba Education Trust Fund.
Sir Gabriel Onyendilefu expressed satisfaction with the way Hon. Rowland Chinwendu is representing them in the State House of Assembly in the past five months stating that his voice is ringing the bell on the floor of State House.
He praised him for raising several motions in the State House of Assembly, especially the resuscitation of moribund industries in the state adding that if the motion will sails through at the end of the day, that it would create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and crime will be reduced.
In his speech, the chairman of the Education Trust Fund, Eze Adindu, PhD, who is a lecturer at the university of Calabar, described Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis (aka Ceaser) as a man of the people, a great lover of education, quintessential representative, an inimitable role model and consummate philanthropist whose ambition is to provide to a lot of his people.
He disclosed that Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis has been helping so many people over the years without blowing his trumpet.
According to him, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis has bought WAEC, NECO and JAMB forms for so many people, organized several health outreach programmes and done so many other good things for the people without publicizing it or making a show of it adding that this time they encouraged him to publicize his Education Trust Fund to increase the number of beneficiaries.
Eze Adindu, a senior lecturer at the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Federal University of Calabar appreciated Hon.Rowland Chinwendu Dennis for touching the lives of the people of Isiala Ngwa South tremendously since his foray into politics and urged other political leaders in the state to emulate his peerless example.
He described Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis as a rare gem, very humble, respectful, forthright, indefatigable and God-fearing legislator.
According to him, since he assumed office he has not changed his phone number and whenever you call him he would respond and if he sees you, he would greet you.
He expressed satisfaction with his extraordinary humility, unquantifiable philanthropy and quality representation adding that he is the kind of representative they need.
Eze Adindu described the management of the Education Trust Fund comprising Chinonso Nweze, a lecturer at Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), Barr. Happiness Ahukanna, Nnaemeka Nwokocha and others as people of integrity and assured the people of Isiala Ngwa South that they would be transparent in selecting the beneficiaries to ensure that the right people benefit from the initiative.
Eze Adindu disclosed that the selection process would start from primary school where they would register people for First School Leaving Certificate Examination.
He recalled with nostalgia the good old days in primary and secondary schools when pupils as well as students used to lock horns in debates and quiz competitions across the nation and assured that they would revive it to broaden their knowledge and to promote the spirit of healthy competition and academic excellence among school children adding that the winners would be highly rewarded.
He said that they would also register those in secondary schools for WAEC and NECO and purchase JAMB forms for those who have completed their secondary school education while those already in tertiary institutions such as polytechnic or university would be given bursary award based on their high academic performance.
According to him, anybody in the university who has up to 3.5 CPA is qualified to be considered for bursary award while those in polytechnic whose CPA are up to three points are also qualified.
He emphasized that the Education Trust Fund is for the entire people of Isiala Ngwa South local government area and has nothing to do with party affiliation.
He announced that they would commence free distribution of the forms from first week of November till the end of November 2023 in all the four political blocs in Isiala Ngwa South local government area namely OV-OV, Amobi, Nvosi and Mbutu and urged the people to go and pick the form from the location nearest to them.
He advised those from Nvosi to go and pick the form at Israel Nwokocha’s compound, Umuezu Nvosi, those from Mbutu should go to Ernest’s place, Owerrinta while those from Mbutu ward four should go and pick the form from the following places – Secondary School, Mbutu, Catholic Church, Mbutu and Ahunanya’s compound.
Those from Amobi political bloc should go and pick the form from Kelechi Emole at Mkpuka.
Addressing the huge turnout, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis (Ceaser) expressed profound gratitude to God for making the official take off of his Education Trust Fund a dream come true.
He appreciated all and sundry for their overwhelming support in the 2023 election including the unrelenting commitment of members of Ebubedike Movement and Ugwumba Campaign Organization towards the actualization of his political ambition.
He described the initiative as a sustainable development and called on all those present to support it in order to change the narrative of education in his constituency and give people from poor homes an opportunity to go to school.
According to him, this is not the first time he has done something like this. He said that he has been doing it quietly over the years but decided to publicize this one to increase the number of beneficiaries adding that this is just the beginning of so many good things that he would do for them.
At the end of his speech, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis (Ceaser) handed over a cheque of #2m to Chief Hilary Alozie, who happened to be the chairman of the education trust fund, whom he described as his uncle, mentor and the man who discovered him and told him that he would go places in politics.
Presenting the cheque to the chairman of the Education Trust Fund, Chief Hilary Alozie doffed his cap for Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis for initiating the Education Trust Fund.
He described him as a man of his words and a legendary pacesetter adding that the initiative would give children from indigent homes a brighter future.
He prayed God to grant Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis long life, good health and prosperity to sustain the Education Trust Fund.
He described the gesture as the first of its kind in the political history of Isiala Ngwa South local government area.
He pointed out that this is the first time somebody from OV-OV bloc in Isiala Ngwa South local government area is representing them in the State House of Assembly and expressed satisfaction with his stellar performance within a very short time in office.
He urged him to sustain the good work he has started, assuring a second term.
On his part, Sir Obinna Odoemenam from Osisioma Ngwa commended his friend, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis (Ceaser) for the laudable education initiative.
He described it as wonderful, apt and worth-replicating in other local government areas of the state.
He stated that education is the key to success and bedrock of development and assured him of his total support.
Contributing, the member representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency, Hon. Collins Ugochukwu Iheonunekwu (Ochake) extolled his colleague, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis for the initiative and promised to assist him in sustaining it.
He commended the school children for turning out in their numbers.
Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis is a legendary grassroots politician, a man of the people and silent philanthropist.
The humble, respectful, forthright and indefatigable legislator ‘extraordinaire’ has carved a niche for himself in the politics of Isiala Ngwa South local government area over the years.
During a chat with some journarlists, hon Rowland Dennis said, during his medical outreach in 2018-2019, that he discovered that there was a high level of illiteracy in Isiala Ngwa South local government area and, there he promised that if God will help him to win election in 2023 to represent the people in the state assembly, that he will look into the education sector. And as God may have it, he emerged a winner of Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency, and because
he is a grassroots politician and he live in the village with his people and he know the areas they are suffering most.
He also mentioned the motions he has raised on the floor of the State House of Assembly such as sitting of a general hospital in Isiala Ngwa South local government area and resuscitation of moribund industries in the state are geared towards enhancing their lot. Prior to his election as the member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency, he have touched lives tremendously in the area. He also said that, he is the founder of Isiala Ngwa South Widows Initiative. He has been empowering widows and the less-privileged by giving them cash, foodstuff, paying school fees for their children as well as hospital bills. By the grace of God next year we are going to more things.
The event was a successful one.
