Senator Nwebonyi Empowers 225 Students, 2,000 Farmers in Ebonyi North
By Chinwe Imo-Eze Onwosi
Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, has distributed ₦50 million in scholarship grants to 225 students and provided agricultural empowerment to over 2,000 farmers in the district.
According to the Senator, each student received ₦200,000 to support their education, with the initiative aimed at boosting both education and agriculture in the region.
Nwebonyi, during his constituency empowerment programme held at Nkaliki, headquarters of Abakaliki Local Government Area on Wednesday, 2,000 farmers from Ebonyi North benefited from the first phase of his agricultural empowerment initiative, receiving vital farm inputs including fertilizers, rice seedlings, and herbicides.
He presented the scholarship grants to nine clinical students from the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (FUNAI), advising them to take their studies seriously and utilize the funds to ensure timely graduation and meaningful contributions to society.
“This support is to ensure that financial constraints do not stop you from achieving your academic goals. Take your education seriously, and make sure you come out with flying colours,” Nwebonyi said.
In addition to educational support, Senator Nwebonyi emphasized the importance of agriculture, urging local farmers to embrace modern farming techniques.
“This is a great opportunity for farmers to boost their productivity and secure better yields. We are committed to making agriculture a key part of our economy again, especially with the declining returns from oil,” he stated.
He noted that the event marked the first phase of a broader agricultural initiative. The second phase, scheduled for June, is expected to reach over 5,000 farmers from across Ebonyi North.
Chief Mathias Adum, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, who also spoke at the event, encouraged farmers to put the farm inputs to good use.
“We hope that these materials will help the farmers improve their yields. I encourage them not to sell these inputs but to use them effectively for their own benefit,” he said.
However, the programme took a controversial turn when Senator Nwebonyi made remarks concerning the conduct of some female politicians.
While affirming his support for women’s inclusion in politics, he expressed concerns about alleged instances of disrespect toward male colleagues by some female politicians.
“I am one of those championing the emancipation of women in politics, but that does not mean that the dignity of men should be undermined. Disrespectful behaviour, like telling a man to ‘shut up,’ is unacceptable,” he said.
Nwebonyi stressed the need for mutual respect in political engagements, adding that women who exhibit such behaviour should not be accommodated in positions of power.
In addition to educational support, Senator Nwebonyi emphasized the importance of agriculture, urging local farmers to adopt modern farming techniques. Over 2,000 farmers received farm inputs, including fertilizers, rice seedlings, and herbicides, in the first phase of the initiative. A second phase is planned for June, targeting over 5,000 farmers.
The Senator’s remarks on women’s conduct in politics sparked controversy, as he expressed concerns about alleged disrespect toward male colleagues. While advocating for women’s inclusion in politics, Nwebonyi emphasized the need for mutual respect.
The event was attended by Chief Mathias Adum, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, who encouraged farmers to utilize the farm inputs effectively.
