Ihiala Local Government Launches Scholarship for 200 Indigenes to Study Part-Time at COOU

On 28th January 2026, the Mayor of Ihiala Local Government Area, Engr. Anayochukwu Charles Orjiakor, visited Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) at the Vice Chancellor’s Conference Room, Igbariam, to announce a major scholarship initiative for indigenes.

During the visit, Engr. Orjiakor unveiled scholarships for 200 qualified indigenes to pursue part-time degree programmes at COOU. He explained that the initiative is designed as a people-centered intervention to mitigate the effects of insecurity and economic hardship, which have hindered many families from sponsoring their children’s education.

The Mayor highlighted that the improved security situation in the area, alongside increased government presence at the University’s Uli Campus, motivated the Local Government to invest directly in human capital development through higher education. He noted that the scholarship builds on the Council’s earlier commitment to education, which included sponsoring over 100 students for Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations last year.

In response, COOU Vice-Chancellor Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha Fnipr commended the initiative, describing it as innovative and people-oriented. She emphasized that financial constraints often prevent qualified individuals from accessing higher education and praised the Local Government for prioritizing education as a pathway to sustainable development.

Prof. Omenugha reaffirmed COOU’s readiness to support initiatives that broaden educational opportunities, noting that such interventions align with the University’s commitment to Values, Viability, and Visibility (3Vs) as key drivers of institutional growth.