Esan professionals target N500m fund to expand education support
The Association of Esan Professionals (AEP) has said its plan to award N15 million in scholarships to outstanding students marks the beginning of a broader education development agenda aimed at transforming Esanland through sustained investment in human capital.
The association disclosed this ahead of its N500 million endowment fund launch, scheduled for Saturday, July 18, urging Esan sons and daughters, as well as other well-wishers, to support the initiative, which is designed to finance scholarships and other developmental projects across the five Esan local government areas of Edo State.
Chairman of the AEP Fund-Raising Committee, Barrister Emmanuel Ogbebor, said the fundraising exercise remained open to all Esan indigenes irrespective of profession, stressing that the association’s vision extends beyond the initial scholarship programme.
According to him, the planned award of N150,000 each to at least 100 students, amounting to N15 million, is intended to encourage academically gifted but financially disadvantaged students to pursue higher education.
Ogbebor said the association would continue to scale up its educational interventions as more individuals and organisations support the endowment fund.
“Our vision is much bigger than the current scholarship programme. As more people key into this initiative, we will continue to expand our interventions for the development of Esanland,” he said.
Chairman of the Scholarship Screening Committee, Mr. George Okoyo, called on other community-based organisations to emulate the initiative by investing in education and youth development.
The fundraising event, themed “Securing Esanland and Empowering Its People Through Education,” will be held virtually and is expected to attract prominent personalities from government, business, academia and traditional institutions.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is expected as the Special Guest of Honour. At the same time, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr Robson Ewalefoh, will chair the occasion.
Business leader and Chairman/Group Chief Executive Officer of Lee Engineering & Construction Company Limited, Chief (Dr.) Leemon Ikpea, CON, will serve as Father of the Day, while traditional rulers from the various Esan kingdoms will participate as Royal Fathers of the Day.
The event will feature a keynote lecture by Prof. Michael Ikhariale of the Lagos State University Faculty of Law and will be hosted by the President of AEP, Dr Henry Egbiki.
Egbiki said the scholarship scheme forms part of the association’s corporate social responsibility aimed at supporting Esan students in higher institutions across Nigeria.
He noted that beneficiaries would be drawn from the five Esan local government areas, Esan Central, Esan South-East, Esan North-East, Esan West and Igueben—continuing a programme under which the association awarded N150,000 scholarships to students last year.
He expressed optimism that the proposed N500 million endowment fund would provide a sustainable financial platform for expanding scholarship opportunities and other community development initiatives across Esanland.
About The Author
