Founder/Chancellor of Gregory University, Uturu (GUU), Prof. Greg Iyke Ibe,
Gregory University Chancellor offers scholarships to stem dearth of professionals in Abia
[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]
Chancellor of the Gregory University, Uturu (GUU), Prof Gregory Ibe, has directed his Scholarship Board to offer tuition-free scholarships to desiring youths from the 17 local government areas of Abia State to study in the institution, courses which professionals were lacking in the State.
Beneficiaries of the proposed scholarship awards would be admitted during the forthcoming 2021/2022 academic session to study and make careers in disciplines such as Petroleum Engineering, Physiotherapy, Radiology, Public Health Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physical and Health Science, Insurance, Theatre Arts, Mass Communication and Agricultural Science .
Prof. Ibe said he gave his nod for the scholarship awards as a way of addressing the observed shortfall of critical professionals in Abia.
According to him, functioning as the Director of Research and Development of Abia Elders Council, he has observed a serious shortfall of professionals in cardinal career fields, after almost 30 years of the creation of the state.
He said if such gaps were not filled, Abia’s growth would remain stunted, explaining that he hopes that the scholarship awards would kick-start the process of grooming such professionals who would fill the gaps in future.
“In execution of my responsibilities as Director of Research and Development of Abia Elders Council, I recently observed the apparent lack of a good stock of professionally trained Abians in such critical careers as Petroleum Engineering, Physiotherapy, Radiology, Public Health Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physical and Health Science, Insurance, Theatre Arts, Mass Communication and Agricultural Science.
“In order to commence the process of reversing the possible negative impacts of the present unfortunate situation of existing yawning gaps in the data bank of certain needed trained professionals on our labour demography in the future, I have directed our Scholarship Board to offer desiring Abia youths from the 17 Local Government Councils tuition-free education in Gregory University, Uturu during the forthcoming 2021/2022 academic session to study these disciplines,” Prof. Ibe disclosed.
The Abia Governorship hopeful while interacting with newsmen ahead of the 30th anniversary of the creation of Abia state, noted that the gaps created by the absence of these critical professionals in the Abia workforce has the potential of obstructing the speedy advancement of the state and halting attainment of future societal goals.
He therefore enjoined Abia youths to avail themselves of the opportunity of acquiring such skill sets that would not only distinguish them but could also make them relevant to societal needs.
It will be recalled that the Prof. Gregory Ibe Scholarship Board had, in the past, offered tuition-free education awards to many youths, climaxing with the extension of similar grants to 150 indigent people from the 17 local government areas of the state during the 2020/2021 academic session, who are currently studying various courses in GUU.
