Ten thousand indigent students in Imo State are now positioned to sit the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination free of charge, following the launch of a scholarship scheme by the South East Renewed Hope Agenda (SERHA), a political group aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The initiative forms part of a wider 50,000 student programme covering all five states in the South East region. SERHA will distribute the scholarships equally among Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, with each state receiving support for 10,000 students.
SERHA National Coordinator, Mr Belusochukwu Enwere, unveiled the project in Owerri on Thursday, describing it as a response to the financial difficulties many parents face in securing tertiary education for their children. “Each scholarship covers the full cost of JAMB registration, giving 10,000 deserving students per state the chance to step confidently into university or polytechnic,” he said.
Enwere described it as a partnership between public leadership and private philanthropy. He credited “Chidi’s generous vision” as a key driver of the scheme. He urged the beneficiaries to “seize this launchpad, study with passion and dream with audacity,” and called on parents, educators and community leaders to provide ongoing support for the students. According to him, the programme aligns with President Tinubu’s national education agenda, which includes student loan schemes and school infrastructure improvements.
Enwere said the South East, recognised for its entrepreneurial heritage, will use the scholarships to develop future leaders, engineers, doctors and innovators. The unveiling ceremony in Owerri attracted government officials, traditional rulers, private sector partners and hundreds of students, who described the intervention as a timely relief for families grappling with the rising cost of tertiary education entry.
SERHA pledged to monitor and mentor scholarship recipients to ensure the support translates into measurable academic success. “SERHA, your dedication to uplifting the next generation echoes the very essence of Igbo ingenuity: onye aghala nwanne ya: no one leaves a brother or sister behind. On behalf of President Tinubu and the entire SERHA family, I extend our deepest gratitude to you for fueling this engine of change,” Enwere said.
He added that President Tinubu has made education a cornerstone of the Renewed Hope Agenda, pointing to the Student Loan Scheme and infrastructure upgrades in schools as evidence of a broader commitment to progress across every region, tribe and demographic. To the beneficiaries: You are the heroes of this story,” Enwere stated.
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