MAGNUS Abe, the senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, is to give final assistance to a total of 350 final year students from the senatorial district in tertiary institutions in Rivers State.

Already, the first batch of the beneficiaries made up of 140 students who are studying various programmes in various tertiary institutions in the state, have so far received the senator’s education support fund.

Making the cash presentation to the beneficiaries in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Abe said, the educational support fund was designed to change the narrative on youth capacity building in the state.

The senator, who was represented by Kadilo Kabari, a former caretaker committee chairman of Gokana Local Government Area of the State, stated that his financial support for the students was devoid of any political colouration.

He said: “I have been sponsoring this programme for some years. This is not politics: my gesture is essentially my own humble way of thanking my constituents who have stood by me since 2011 when I was elected to the National Assembly.”

Abe, who also chairman, Senate Committee on FERMA, explained that the educational support covers final year students in the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State University; Ignatius Ajuru University of Education; Kenule Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori and the Port Harcourt Polytechnic.

The former secretary to state government said that the first batch of 140 awardees were from the Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education while the next set would include students from the University of Port Harcourt; Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic and the Port Harcourt Polytechnic.

He said: “Our aim is to encourage academic excellence among students in tertiary institutions from the Rivers South East Senatorial District. We are determined to change the narrative of our youths from violence to educational pursuit.

“The process is straightforward. We involve the authorities of the institutions whose students are eligible for the programme. The school presents verifiable documentary evidence to support the ability and capability of each student. This year, we had three students within the first class category and will want them to have value re-orientation.”

– Sept 11, 2017 @ 10:47 GMT