Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain and former Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, has announced plans to introduce the Dovis Scholarship Scheme for outstanding first-class students, with beneficiaries required to sustain excellent academic performance.
Ikpeazu disclosed this at the celebration of his 62nd birthday and the Fifth Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Colloquium in Madrid, Spain.
The event, themed “Empowerment Beyond Handouts: Building Responsible, Skilled and Self-Reliant Young People for Sustainable Development,” called for greater investment in education, vocational training, mentorship and entrepreneurship as pathways to sustainable youth development.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, Ikpeazu stressed that meaningful empowerment must go beyond the distribution of cash and material gifts to equipping young people with the skills and knowledge needed for self-reliance.
He said the proposed scholarship would reward academic excellence, adding that beneficiaries could lose the award if they failed to maintain the required standards.
Reflecting on his administration’s youth development programmes in Abia State, the former governor cited the establishment of poultry clusters equipped with production facilities, feed stores, veterinary clinics and professional instructors.
He explained that the initiative combined theoretical lessons with practical farm management and business training, preparing participants to establish and manage their own enterprises.
Ikpeazu also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing him Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain, while acknowledging the support of his family, friends and political associates.
In a keynote lecture delivered virtually, Professor John Uzoma Ihendinihu of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, said the success of empowerment programmes should be measured by the capabilities beneficiaries acquire rather than the material assistance they receive.
Ihendinihu, a Professor of Accounting and Taxation, advocated a comprehensive approach to youth development that integrates education, character building, vocational training, mentorship and access to markets.
He cited the Made-in-Aba campaign, international training for local artisans, the Enyimba Automated Shoe Company and the Enyimba Automated Garment Factory as examples of initiatives implemented under Ikpeazu’s administration to promote local production and economic independence.
He urged governments, educational institutions, businesses and community leaders to prioritise programmes that create jobs, improve productivity and equip young people to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Earlier, the moderator, Kimiebi Ebienfa, a former spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described Ikpeazu as a scholar, diplomat and public servant whose career reflected a commitment to education and service.
Ebienfa said the annual colloquium had evolved to address critical issues in entrepreneurship, economic growth and sustainable empowerment, with this year’s theme highlighting the need to build a skilled and self-reliant generation.
Participants at the event, both physically and virtually, commended the former governor’s contributions to education, youth development and public service.
The celebration ended with goodwill messages and birthday tributes in honour of the ambassador.
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