Nigerian Ambassador to Spain unveils planned scholarship scheme for exceptional first-class students, calls for investment in youth capacity building
By Joy Omagha Idam
ABUJA — Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and former Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, has announced plans to institute the DOVIS Scholarship Scheme for exceptional first-class students, emphasising that sustainable empowerment must go beyond handouts to embrace education, skills acquisition, mentorship and entrepreneurship.
Ikpeazu made the announcement during the celebration of his 62nd birthday and the Fifth Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Colloquium, organised by the Pa Ismael Ikpeazu Library and DOVI Scientific Leadership Centre.
The colloquium, themed “Empowerment Beyond Handouts: Building Responsible, Skilled and Self-Reliant Young People for Sustainable Development,” brought together scholars, public servants, associates and other stakeholders to examine strategies for promoting sustainable youth development.
Ikpeazu explained that the proposed scholarship would reward exceptional academic performance, with beneficiaries expected to maintain high standards throughout their studies. He noted that the award would be suspended if a recipient’s academic performance declined.
Reflecting on his experience in public service, the ambassador argued that meaningful empowerment requires deliberate investment in human capacity rather than the distribution of material benefits without adequate preparation for self-reliance.
He cited agricultural programmes implemented during his administration in Abia State, particularly poultry clusters established to equip young people with practical business skills.
According to him, the initiative provided poultry pens, feed stores, veterinary clinics and professional instructors who guided participants through classroom instruction and practical farm management before helping them transition into independent poultry businesses.
He explained that the approach was designed to prepare beneficiaries for the realities of business ownership by combining technical knowledge with hands-on experience.
Ikpeazu maintained that such interventions offered a more sustainable approach to empowerment because they equipped participants with the competence required to establish and manage viable enterprises.
The former governor also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing him Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain. He commended the President’s economic reforms, which he said had placed the country on a positive economic trajectory.
He equally acknowledged the support of his family, friends and political associates throughout his academic, professional and political journey.
Empowerment Must Build Capacity, Not Dependency
The highlight of the colloquium was a virtual keynote lecture delivered by Professor John Uzoma Ihendinihu, a Professor of Accounting and Taxation at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
In his presentation, Ihendinihu argued that the success of empowerment programmes should be measured by the capabilities they create rather than the immediate benefits distributed to recipients.
He said sustainable youth development required an integrated approach that combined character formation, education, professional competence, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
The professor stressed that empowerment initiatives should extend beyond cash transfers and material gifts to include vocational training, mentorship, access to business opportunities and connections to viable markets.
He described Ikpeazu’s life and career as an example of the role education, discipline and public service can play in human development.
Ihendinihu highlighted several youth-focused initiatives associated with Ikpeazu’s administration, including the promotion of the Made-in-Aba campaign, sponsorship of local artisans for international training, and the establishment of the Enyimba Automated Shoe Company and Enyimba Automated Garment Factory.
He also cited efforts to secure institutional markets for products manufactured by Aba-based entrepreneurs, noting that access to markets was essential to the sustainability of small businesses.
According to him, such interventions illustrated how empowerment programmes could move beyond immediate material assistance to promote productivity, enterprise development and employment generation.
He urged governments, educational institutions, businesses and community leaders to prioritise investments that would equip young people with the skills, values and opportunities needed to contribute meaningfully to economic growth.
Colloquium Examines Sustainable Youth Development
Earlier, Kimiebi Ebienfa, a former spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and moderator of the event, described Ikpeazu as a scholar, statesman, diplomat and public servant whose career had been shaped by scholarship, humility and service.
Ebienfa said the annual colloquium had consistently provided a platform for discussing economic development, entrepreneurship and sustainable empowerment.
He explained that the theme of the fifth edition addressed the need to equip young people with the knowledge, practical skills and values required to become productive and self-reliant.
According to him, discussions at previous editions had progressed from entrepreneurship and economic growth to examining the shortcomings of some empowerment programmes and identifying practical approaches to sustainable human capital development.
Participants at the event emphasised the importance of developing programmes that enable young people to acquire relevant skills, establish businesses and contribute to their communities.
The gathering also featured tributes from friends, associates and well-wishers who joined physically and virtually from different parts of the world to celebrate the ambassador’s 62nd birthday.
Several speakers commended Ikpeazu’s contributions to public service, education, youth development and community advancement.
The event concluded with goodwill messages, birthday tributes and the rendition of a birthday song in honour of the celebrant, as family members, friends, associates and other guests joined in celebrating his life and career.
The central message of the colloquium was that lasting empowerment depends not merely on what beneficiaries receive, but on the knowledge, skills, opportunities and confidence they acquire to build sustainable livelihoods.