The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has pledged to award scholarships to the 187 pioneer students of the Ebonyi State University of Information and Communication Technology, Oferekpe, if they are unable to access the Federal Government–backed student loan provided through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.
The governor made the announcement during the 2025/2026 matriculation ceremony of the institution held at the university’s permanent site in Oferekpe, Izzi Local Government Area of the state, on Saturday.
Nwifuru said the scholarship, if activated, would cover the students throughout their academic stay in the institution and is intended to support the pioneer students and help them excel in their studies.
He described the matriculation ceremony as a historic moment that would be remembered for generations, noting that it marks the formal beginning of a journey that started as a vision shared by leaders of the state, including the immediate past governor, David Nweze Umahi.
According to him, the university represents a dream that has now grown into a centre for learning, innovation and technological advancement in the state.
“There was a time when the idea of establishing a specialised institution focused on information and communication technology was merely a discussion among forward-thinking leaders of this state who believed that the future belongs to knowledge, technology, and innovation,” he said.
The governor noted that the institution was conceived as a specialised university designed to produce innovators and job creators rather than graduates who rely solely on already saturated job markets.
He said the institution’s curriculum is tailored toward entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and innovation-driven education, using modular systems that emphasise practical outcomes.
“The rate of unemployment is troubling, and entrepreneurship education can empower our young people to become self-reliant and create opportunities for others. So, we will give scholarships to the 187 pioneer students to encourage them if the NELFUND loan fails,” he said.
Nwifuru added that the leaders behind the project recognised the rapidly changing global landscape and understood that the youths of Ebonyi must not be left behind in the digital age.
He said the project moved from concept to reality through extensive planning, legislative processes, consultations and partnerships.
The governor also expressed appreciation to the host community of Oferekpe Agbaja for donating land for the establishment of the university.
He noted that the land had previously served as farmland that sustained generations of families.
“In their wisdom and love for progress, the community chose to sacrifice these lands so that knowledge could grow,” he said, praising the community’s generosity and commitment to development.
Nwifuru noted that the establishment of the institution aligns with his administration’s People’s Charter of Needs Agenda, which prioritises education and human capital development.
He disclosed that the state government has already sponsored several Ebonyi indigenes for postgraduate studies in institutions within and outside Nigeria, with the aim of deploying them as lecturers and technical personnel at the ICT university upon completion of their studies.
