By Peter Duru, Makurdi

A total of 57 lucky students have been selected for the maiden Senator Abba Moro’s Foreign Scholarship Program for indigent students in the nine Local Government Areas, LGAs, of Benue South Senatorial District from which Gboko and Guma LGAs got two slots.

The fortunate students emerged through a unique spinning selection  process designed to randomly pick those that met the eligibility criteria, in the presence of traditional rulers, youths leaders, politicians, student leaders, students, among others.

Addressing the gathering in Otukpo the lawmaker representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, represented by former Otukpo Local Government Chairman and Senior Legislative Aide, SLA, to the Senate President, Chief George Alli explained that the scholarship was open to secondary school leavers who would enjoy fully funded first degree scholarships overseas.

He disclosed that over 750 students from the nine LGAs initially applied for the scholarship after which about 350 of them who met the qualification criteria were shortlisted for the final selection.

He said, “the process is transparent and will continue to be transparent that is why we adopted the spinning process in public glare. The scholarship is open to every indigent student in Benue South irrespective of political or any other affiliations.

“A minimum of four applicants would be picked from the nine Local Government Areas, LGAs, while the Senate Minority Leader would also distribute his dedicated slots. We expect that by September and October the selected students would resume school.”

The traditional ruler of Otukpo, Och’Otukpo Odu, HRH John Eimonye who commended Senator Moro for the initiative and the transparent manner the selection of the beneficiaries was being done urged those who did not make the final list to endeavour to apply next year.

The monarch said ” this initiative is commendable, Senator Moro is a man who values education and who knows what it means to empower the youths, that is why we will continue to commend him.”

Also, the Ad’utu Obi, HRH Dr. Chris Ijale who also lauded the transparent selection process adopted by the team, thanked Senator Moro for availing the children of the poor the opportunity of studying overseas.

He said, “Senator Moro has given everyone in Benue South the opportunity to benefit from the scholarship, I heard names of children of people who are not of his political party, that is an attribute of a good leader, it clearly shows that Senator Moro is not representing his party but the entire people of Benue South.”

Former Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Egli Ahubi said “Senator Moro has always been a good ambassador of our people. We are not surprised by this his initiative. We commend him for always putting the people first.”

The Makurdi Local Government Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Paul Tion said the laudable initiative would change the lives of the beneficiaries and urged the people to continue to support the lawmaker who he said “has given the people purposeful leadership and representation in the National Assembly.”

Consultant of the programme, Mr. Douglas Alli explained that this year’s stream of the scholarship focused mainly on science related courses.

A breakdown of beneficiaries per LGA showed that Ado got five candidates, Agatu got four, Apa secured six, Obi got five, Ogbadigbo seven, Ohimini five, Oju seven, Okpokwu 10, Otukpo six, while Gboko and Guma LGAs in the Benue North  West District got a slot each.

During the event, a minute silence was observed in honour of those killed by armed herdsmen in Otobi-Akpa community of Otukpo LGA.