Full Story (Videos and Pics): The OCI Foundation honours the VC of UNZIK, Prof Charles Esimone for partnering the Organization (Awka, Nigeria; Sept 10, 2021).

Contribution by Dr Njide Ezeonyejiaku (Media Adviser, OCI Foundation).

The Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka, Prof Charles Esimone has reiterated his passion for youth development as a way of guiding the future hopes of the society on the path of honour.

Prof. Esimone made this remark while speaking to a delegation of Onyebuchi Chris Ifediora (OCI) Foundation’s Cyfed Scholars who paid a thank you visit to him in his office at UNIZIK, Awka. Cyfed Scholars are those on the Foundation’s Undergraduate Scholarship.

The delegation was led by some UNIZIK staff members, including Prof Williams Obiozor (who is also an Associate of the OCI Foundation) and Dr Njide Ezeonyejiaku (also the OCI’s Media Adviser). The OCI Foundation’s Admin Officer (II), Miss Esther ANTHONY (who is also a student of UNIZIK and a beneficiary of the OCI Foundation’s educational activities) was also in attendance.

The other Cyfed Scholars at the event were Miss Stella AKPEH, Miss Anthonia UDENZE, Miss Chinyere NWACHUKWU, Miss Onyinye EZEIKE, Miss Kosiso EZEIKE, Mr Charles CHIBUOYIM and Miss Nebechi Ezennaya.

According to Prof Esimone, the youths are the hopes of tomorrow, and offering them admission to study the courses of their choice is simply providing a veritable foundation that will help them build a better and brighter future for themselves and the society at large.

On the “thank you” visit by the OCI Foundation, the Vice Chancellor noted that appreciation is one of the virtues that is lacking in our society as many do not know how and when to appreciate kind deeds from others.

He added that OCI Foundation has been partners in progress with UNIZIK for paying the school fees of a number of students on their scholarship whom the University has offered admission to.

Prof Esimone appealed to the President of OCI Foundation, Assoc Prof Chris Ifediora to keep doing the good work of assisting indigent youths to achieve their dreams, while urging the students to eschew any untoward act that may derail their mission in the University and avail themselves of the entrepreneurial skills the University promotes in order to fit into the demands of 21st century labour market.

Earlier in his opening remark, the leader of the delegation, Prof Williams Obiozor, explained that the OCI Foundation came to say “thank you” to the Vice Chancellor, for all his support towards the organization’s various programmes, describing him as a formidable partner of the Foundation.

In his speech, the President and Founder, OCI Foundation, Assoc Prof Chris Ifediora expressed gratitude to Prof Esimone for facilitating the OCI Foundation’s mission and vision, while eulogizing the Prof Joseph Ikechebelu (UNIZIK’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration), Prof Nonso Achebe (UNIZIK’s Dean of Student Affairs), Prof Williams Obiozor, and the entire UNIZIK management, for their individual and collective support to the goals of the Foundation.

Dr Ifediora, represented by the OCI Foundation’s Media Adviser, Dr Njide Ezeonyejiaku, noted that Health, Education, and Social/Public welfare, were the three major activities of the Foundation, adding that seven out of a total of ten Cyfed Scholars currently benefitting from the OCI Foundation’s Scholarship scheme, were admitted into UNIZIK based on the Vice Chancellor’s goodwill.

Continuing, Dr Ifediora stressed that Cyfed Scholars are educationally sound young men and women, who might not have progressed in their academic pursuit if not for the OCI Foundation’s Scholarships.

He maintained that the Foundation’s partnership with UNIZIK was publicly confirmed at the historic flag-off ceremony of the OCI Foundation’s Arm Our Youths (ArOY) Health Campaign held on 10th September, 2019 at the Main Auditorium of UNIZIK, Awka, pointing out that the tremendous support of Prof Esimone has facilitated the ArOY Health Campaign on the preventive techniques of breast and cervical cancers to become part of the curriculum of all public Senior Secondary Schools in Anambra State, while a number of States in Nigeria are lining up to embrace the campaign.

Contributing, one of the Cyfed Scholars, Mr Charles Okoh, who is a 200 Level Medical student of UNIZIK, expressed delight that Prof Esimone has been a frontend contributor to their academic pursuit. He promised to uphold the good seeds sown in them by diligently undergoing a transformation in learning and in character as they pass through the University.

High points of the visit were the presentation of a thank you card signed by the UNIZIK Cyfed Scholars, presentation of an award plaque of recognition, and the decoration of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Esimone, with the official Muffler of the OCI Foundation as a partner.