Joe Akwarandu, Umuahia
Abia state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has awarded a 5-year undergraduate scholarship to Solomon Ukoha, the 24-year-old boy who constructed an electricity substation, powered with crude oil and other locally sourced materials. The scholarship is for him to further his education in any tertiary institution of his choice.
Governor Ikpeazu made this pronouncement at the Governor’s Lodge in Aba while receiving Solomon, who hails from Amaekpu in Ohafia local government area of the state. He expressed joy over the technical ingenuity exhibited by the young innovator, noting that Abia has youths who can compete favourably with their international counterparts in technical education, if given the opportunity.
The governor acknowledged that power supply had been a major problem facing the country and, as such, had impacted negatively on economic growth and industrialisation, especially in the shoe, leather and garments sub sectors for which Aba is well known.
He encouraged the innovator to train some other youths and impart same knowledge to them for the greater benefit of society and encouraged him to build a more presentable prototype of the substation to enable it compete in external exhibitions, revealing that the scholarship covered his tuition fee and accommodation.
Showcasing his innovation to the governor, Ukoha, who said he had completed his secondary school education without any hope of going further due to financial challenges, revealed that he got the inspiration from God.
He appealed to the state governor to assist him further his education, a step he said would help him greatly in fulfilling his ambition, also expressing his readiness to teach other youths as advised by the governor.
Recall that Ukoha, whose video went viral on the social media last week, demonstrated the electrical substation before the governor.
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