In Anambra: Bishop Ezeokafor, HIFA Austria Award ₦12.6m Scholarships to 84 Indigent Students

The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, in partnership with Help For All (HIFA) Initiative, Austria, has provided tuition support totaling ₦12.6 million to 84 indigent students across Anambra State.

The financial assistance, disbursed through the Justice, Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Awka Diocese, was officially presented during a cheque ceremony held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka.

Speaking at the event, Bishop Ezeokafor emphasized that education remains the most reliable path to personal development and societal relevance. He urged the beneficiaries to remain focused, disciplined, and committed to their studies, noting that success without education is difficult to attain.

The Bishop warned that the scholarship scheme would be sustained only for students who demonstrate seriousness and strong academic performance, adding that beneficiaries who show lack of commitment would be dropped from future support.

He was represented at the event by the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Charles Ndubuisi, alongside the Diocesan Education Secretary, Rev. Fr. Maximus Okonkwo.

Addressing parents and students at the JDPC Secretariat within the Cathedral premises, the Executive Director of JDPC Awka Diocese and Chairman of the Anambra State HIFA Board, Rev. Fr. Levi Ukor, said the intervention was made possible through a long-standing partnership with HIFA Austria.

According to him, the organization, founded and funded by retired teachers in Austria, places strong emphasis on students’ academic performance and progress reports. He disclosed that this commitment informed the increase in funding from the usual ₦125,000 per student to ₦150,000 this year, bringing the total expenditure to ₦12.6 million.

Fr. Ukor expressed appreciation to Bishop Ezeokafor for prioritizing education despite competing demands, noting that the scholarship programme has grown steadily over the years. He added that HIFA Austria increased its funding this year in response to the prevailing economic hardship in the country.

He explained that beneficiaries are selected through an annual scouting and screening process to confirm genuine indigence before their names are forwarded to HIFA Austria for approval. Students were drawn from different schools and communities including Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha, Ozubulu, Ihiala, Ekwulobia, Orumba, and other parts of the State, without regard to religious or denominational affiliation.

Beyond tuition support, Fr. Ukor noted that JDPC and HIFA Austria are also involved in school construction and renovation, healthcare projects, transportation assistance, payment of medical bills for the poor, and skills acquisition programmes for vulnerable persons.

He further disclosed that HIFA Austria, co-founded by Adolf Paster and the late Rev. Fr. Aaron Ekwu, currently operates in six Nigerian states and continues to maintain a strong humanitarian presence in Anambra State.

Also speaking, the JDPC Diocesan Chairman, Hon. Paulinus Adinuba, cautioned parents against diverting the scholarship funds to purposes other than education.

The event, which was attended by parents, students, and other stakeholders, featured the presentation of cheques to beneficiaries and group photographs. The students expressed gratitude to Bishop Ezeokafor and HIFA Austria, pledging to work harder academically and serve as positive role models in their communities.