By Dennis Agbo

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has commended individuals, groups, and corporate organisations investing in the education of youths in the state, describing such efforts as critical to unlocking potential and strengthening the future.

Mbah noted that the value of these interventions goes beyond financial assistance, stressing that they represent investments in dreams and human capital development.

The governor spoke on Monday in Enugu during the 2026 bursary presentation ceremony to 137 students from Udi and Ezeagu Local Government Areas, organised by the Uzor Cares Foundation.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Education Innovation and Director of Experiential Learning at Enugu Smart Green Schools, Dr. Chinyere Onyeisi, Mbah praised the foundation for its commitment to education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and policy advocacy.

He said the foundation’s initiatives align with the state’s development agenda, which prioritises education from foundational to tertiary levels.

“In this administration, education is not merely a sector — it is a strategic turning point. It represents the dividing line between poverty and prosperity, limitation and opportunity, dependency and productivity,” Mbah said.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the foundation, Dr. Festus Uzor, described the initiative as a reaffirmation of its commitment to educational advancement and community-driven development.

Uzor recalled that the first edition of the bursary in 2025 benefited 87 undergraduates from the benefiting communities, adding that the foundation leverages networks and partnerships to expand opportunities for young people.

“Our vision is clear: to reduce poverty to the barest minimum by expanding access to quality education, improving healthcare, promoting skills acquisition, and supporting policies that create real economic opportunities,” he said.

He emphasised that education remains central to the foundation’s mission, describing it as the most sustainable pathway to social mobility.

Chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Very Rev. Prof. Christian Anieke, lauded the bursary awards, noting their significance during the Lenten season.

Anieke encouraged beneficiaries to remain diligent, stressing that acts of support should inspire greater commitment to personal growth and societal contribution.