Akwa Ibom: Umo Eno Approves Scholarship Awards To Indigent Students At Zaria Aviation College
By Ekanem Asuquo
Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has approved scholarship indigent students of the state aspiring to pursue a career in the aviation industry.
Governor Eno announced the offer on Thursday June 6, 2024, when he hosted Priscilla Daniel, who was recently admitted for pilot training, in his office at Government House, Uyo.
Eno explained that he opted to intervene when he came across a message of appeal by Priscilla on the socia media forwarded to him by the First Lady and progenitor of Golden Initiative, Pastor (Mrs) Patience Umo Eno.
He noted the state government, under his watch, is disposed to supporting and encouraging girl - child education as well as every Akwa Ibomite who is making effort to earn a decent living.
The Akwa Ibom governor applauded her for scaling through the hurdles to earned admission into the College of Aviation Zaria,urging her to remain focused on her dreams.
He directed the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, and Special Assistant on Humanitarian Services, to work out the details of the scholarship for her and the two other financially challenged Akwa Ibomites who had been identified with similar challenges at the prestigious institution of learning.
Responding, the beneficiary, Priscilla Daniel, said: " I am delighted at the humanitarian disposition of the Governor,I am overwhelmed with joy"
Priscilla, who is an electrical electronic engineering technology graduate of Auchi Polytechnic said:
"I love aviation, and it all started from my nursery school when I was asked to act as a pilot in one of our presentations.
" That day, I was given a very big cardigan with belt to demonstrate one who is about to fly.
"After my nursery school, I attended Girls High School, Ikot Ibiok, Eket, and each time I walked to school and saw a helicopter landing at the then Mobil Airstrip, I always said to myself, I must fly this.
"Though some people actually discouraged me because I am a woman, giving the impression that it is a job for men only. I never gave up. After my HND programme in 2020, I applied to the College of Aviation Technology, Zaria and it took the school three years to call us for evaluation exams, but thank God that I made it.
"I feel very excited, I don't know how to express it but I am very happy. When I stood in there with the Governor, I was just saying in my heart, 'thank you God for passing through Governor Umo Eno to make my dream a reality because at some point it felt like it was just a dream that won't come through, but I just had to keep pushing, I told myself that I won't give up.
" This is not just for me, but for Akwa Ibom State, I will continue to be a good ambassador of our dear State," she added.
She expressed appreciation to the First Lady, for taking her case to the Governor, praying God to continually guide and guard her to remain a blessing to the girl child, the state and humanity in general.
