By Iyoho Emmanuel
ABUJA — The Youth Wing of Akwa Ibom Community, Abuja, has awarded scholarships of ₦50,000 each to 33 students as part of activities marking the 2026 International Youth Day celebration.
The beneficiaries, drawn from government primary and secondary schools, were selected through a screening process aimed at supporting indigent students and helping them remain in school despite financial challenges facing their families.
Speaking after the event at Akwa Ibom House, Abuja, the youth leader of Akwa Ibom Community, Comrade Clement Edet, said the scholarship programme was initiated in response to concerns over students dropping out of school because their parents could no longer afford their educational expenses.
Edet said the youth leadership decided to intervene after recognising that even modest financial assistance could make a significant difference in the lives of students and their families.
“The scholarship came as a result of seeing our people dropping out of school because parents could no longer afford the school fees of their children,” he said.
According to him, the initiative was designed to provide immediate educational support to deserving students and would be sustained as long as the youth wing had the capacity to continue it.
“We have rolled out scholarships for about 33 students, and it will continue as long as we have the ability to do so. Each beneficiary will receive ₦50,000,” Edet assured.
He stressed that the beneficiaries were not selected arbitrarily, explaining that the process was designed to be open, transparent and merit-based.
He said interested applicants underwent oral and written interviews as well as a screening exercise conducted on the Saturday preceding the International Youth Day celebration.
“Those who passed the interview made it through the selection process, and they are the set of people being celebrated today,” he added.
For the beneficiaries, the scholarship brought excitement and gratitude. One of them, Deborah Emmanuel, described the occasion simply as a celebration and expressed happiness over receiving the scholarship.
Edet also described the International Youth Day celebration as a success, saying the programme featured a road walk, entertainment, drama, social activities and the scholarship presentation.
He said the combination of the activities made the celebration a landmark achievement for the community’s youth wing.
Beyond the scholarship programme, Edet urged young Akwa Ibom people residing in Abuja to remain productive and contribute positively to society wherever they found themselves.
“My message to my fellow youths of Akwa Ibom in Abuja is to always be ready, available and receptive. Wherever you find yourself, add value to the system and remain very effective,” he advised.
The scholarship initiative also received commendation from the leadership of Akwa Ibom Community, Abuja.
The vice president of the community, Akparawa Solomon Umana, who represented the President, Mkpisong Gabriel Fan, a lawyer at the event, pledged continued support for the youth wing’s educational and empowerment initiatives.
Umana said the scholarship had given hope to the beneficiaries and assured the youth wing that the community leadership would continue to encourage it to do more.
In a personal demonstration of support, he pledged to sponsor at least one student in the community and promised to do more in the following year.
The scholarship programme formed one of the major highlights of the 2026 International Youth Day celebration organised by the Youth Wing of Akwa Ibom Community, Abuja.
The initiative underscored the youth wing’s commitment to promoting education, supporting vulnerable students and investing in the deFrom left:Idoreyin Celsus, Deborah Emmanuel, Victor Inyang and Divine Joseph, pose for the press shortly after receiving their ₦50,000 scholarship awards during the 2026 International Youth Day ceremony organised by the Youth Wing of the Akwa Ibom Community, Abuja, at Akwa Ibom House, Central Business District, Abuja