By Ikenna Nwokedi 

History was made on Monday, 6th January, 2025 as Ifitedunu-born US based Barr. Raymond and Dr. Mrs Catherine Okali empowered 18 youths of Ifitedunu Community with Education and Bursary awards worth 2.1 million naira.

The colourful annual event which was the 5th anniversary of Barr. Raymond and Dr. Mrs. Catherine Okali Youth Education and Skill Bursary Award Empowerment program was aimed at empowering and supporting the youths of the community in their academic pursuit and vocational skill development for human capital development.

The honorees were categorized as four years University academic degree student awards for ten (10) participants and a student graduating from four-year degree program while for vocational skills, there were four (4) new candidates for the 2025 apprentice empowerment program and two (2) candidates who are set to graduate from the apprenticeship program.

In his remarks, the program Director, Barrister Emmanuel Nzegwu disclosed that the youth empowerment program has been an annual event held for five years and bankrolled by US based Barr. Raymond and Dr. Mrs Catherine Okali as a way of giving back to the community through human capital development by promotion of educational values and vocational skills development for dedicated, committed and hardworking youths of Ifitedunu.

Barr. Nzegwu eulogized the Okalis for their benevolence, philantropic gesture and positive spirit aimed at progress and growth of the community through empowerment of the youths who are the future leaders of tomorrow. The program Director admonished the recipients of the awards to utilize the opportunity by making the benefactor and the community proud in their various fields of endeavour. Barr. Nzegwu also thanked the President-General (PG) of the Community, Comrade Stephen Ufoaroh for his presence and moral support as well as the parents of the recipients for their tutelage and parental upbringing.

On his part, the PG of Ifitedunu, Comrade Ufoaroh praised Barr. Raymond and Dr. Catherine Okali for the very noble initiative which is part of his vision of community governance for stemming the tide of social vices through youth empowerment. The former Chairperson, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) UNIZIK chapter advised the youths to see the program as an opportunity to be the best they can in their various fields of endeavour.

Comrade Ufoaroh also stated that he will personally monitor the recipients and ensure that the funds given to them are efficiently and effectively utilized for the purpose. He urged other well meaning individuals in Ifitedunu Community to emulate the kind gesture of the Okalis by contributing their quota towards the growth and development of the community.

The student recipients of the awards at N125,000 each are Emmanuel Chukwunonso Ekwegbalu (Department of Information Technology - 100 level, UNIZIK Awka); Ogochukwu Mary Eaustine Chidebelu (Department of Food, Science and Technology - 100 level, UNIZIK Awka); Okwudili Ifebuchechukwu Miracle (College of Nursing Sciences Ndoki, Abia State); Chukwuemeka Peter Ekweluozo (300 level, NOCEN Nsugbe); Chidiume Justine Chukwuma (Department of Microbiology - 200 level, UNIZIK Awka); Amuche Okoye (Department of Agric Economics - 200 level, UNIZIK Awka).

Others are Uchechukwu Abaeme (400 level, Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron, Akwa Ibom); Philip Chidera Ofunne (200 level, COOU Igbariam), Chinedu Martin (Department of Electrical Engineering - 200 level, COOU Igbariam) and Ujunwa Eze (Department of Human Anatomy - 200 level, UNIZIK Awka) while Njideka Ekwenugo, a graduating student got N150,000.

Recipients of the Skill Bursary Award to the tune of N100,000 are Nndruk Joshua Ifesinachi (Alumaco), Chigozie Nwaforasa (Plumbing), Sochima David Osita (Block Molding) and Chigozie Nwafor (Plumbing and Piping) while apprentice who are set for graduation got the sum of N150,000 with Uchenna Chidiume (Upholstery) and Chukwujekwu Chikelue (POP) being the beneficiaries.

Highpoints of the occasion was the presentation of the empowerment program document and funds to the award recipients, photo sessions between the honourees and top dignitaries at the event.