UNIUYO students praise Comfort Ekpo’s hope scheme

BY AKANIMO KINGSLEY

The students body of the University of Uyo have rose to express delight at the recently launched student support scheme tagged “The Hope Scheme” an initiative of the Prof. Comfort Ekpo led administration of the school.

A statement by the president of the Students’ Union, Comr. Ndianabasi Ekong, commends the VICE Chancellor and the entire management team for what he describes as ‘succour to the Nigerian students and a necessary solution’. The scheme which is aimed at supporting economically disadvantaged students through school, in order to curb the rate of students drop-out for reasons of financial challenges, was officially launched on Friday October 3rd, 2014, with cash donations from various individuals within and outside the University of Uyo.

Provisions of the student support scheme for the first phase include engaging one hundred students in part time job in two hours daily within the University, subject to monthly stipend; scholarship scheme of Thirty Thousand Naira, interest free loan and financial assistance with Twenty Thousand Naira per student, each year. In the first year an estimated number of five hundred students of the University are expected to benefit from the scheme which would cost the school about Twenty Two Million Naira, while about a Hundred Million Naira is estimated to sustain the scheme through the first phase.

Commencing from the 2014/2015 academic year, ‘the Hope Scheme is specifically targeted at indigent students from level 200 up to their final year of study in the university.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Comfort Ekpo has called on corporate bodies and public spirited individuals to support The Hope Scheme.