Benue Ex Finance Commissioner Establishes N50 million Education Support Fund for Idoma Students
The fund, established under the Apa Legacy Sustainability Initiative, aims to support students facing financial difficulties. National Association of Idoma Students (NAIS( President Comrade Vincent Odebugu expressed gratitude, highlighting the significant impact the fund will have on Idoma students.
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Dr. David Olofu, former Commissioner for Finance in Benue State, has launched a N50 million Education Support Fund to benefit Idoma students in tertiary institutions across the nine Local Government Areas of Benue South.
The fund, established under the Apa Legacy Sustainability Initiative, aims to support students facing financial difficulties. "In the past few days, I was to be conferred with a chieftaincy title by the Idoma Area Traditional Council. Despite preparations and support from friends, colleagues, and associates, the event was canceled less than 48 hours before it was to take place. Therefore, I decided to allocate the remaining funds to support Idoma students," Olofu explained at a press conference in Otukpo.
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The Education Support Fund, which starts with an initial N20 million, is expected to grow by N10 million annually, reaching a total of N50 million. Olofu, who previously chaired the Forum of Commissioners for Finance in Nigeria and is currently a Senior Technical Advisor to the Nigerian Governors' Forum, initiated this fund to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration's efforts to support students.
The Board of Trustees for the fund, chaired by Professor David Salifu, a senior lecturer at Federal University Wukari and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), includes representatives from the National Association of Idoma Students (NAIS), the Idoma Area Traditional Council, civil society, and Hon. Owoicho Oyi, former chairman of Apa Local Government, as the secretary.
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Professor Salifu praised the initiative, encouraging other Idoma leaders to follow Olofu's example.National Association of Idoma Students (NAIS( President Comrade Vincent Odebugu expressed gratitude, highlighting the significant impact the fund will have on Idoma students.
Hon. Chris Adaba Abba, a PDP chieftain, and Comrade Joe Ochogwu, former NAIS National President, commended Olofu's generosity and urged other leaders to emulate his commitment to education. "Supporting students during these challenging times is a commendable and virtuous act," they emphasized.
