Date: 29 July, 202
By Jane Daniel
ENUGU – The Chijioke Ugwueze Memorial Foundation (CUMF) has celebrated a major milestone with the graduation of the first 14 beneficiaries of its university scholarship scheme as it marked its fifth anniversary.
The Managing Director of the foundation, Mrs. Amaka Ugwueze, said the organisation was established in July 2021 in memory of her late husband, Mr. Chijioke Ugwueze, to improve the lives of vulnerable people through education, empowerment and humanitarian interventions.
Speaking at the anniversary celebration in Enugu, she said the foundation has reached hundreds of indigent residents across the 11 political wards of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State through scholarships, vocational training, financial assistance and welfare programmes.
According to her, the 14 graduates, who are the pioneer beneficiaries of the foundation’s scholarship programme, received full sponsorship throughout their university education in disciplines including Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Biology and Education.
She noted that the foundation has also provided financial support to widows, trained unemployed youths and women in vocational skills, and distributed relief materials to persons with disabilities over the past five years.
Ugwueze described education as a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty, stressing that investing in young people remains central to the foundation’s mission of building stronger communities.
She added that CUMF organises annual novelty football competitions to promote unity among youths and hosts Christmas outreach programmes for widows, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, while enrolling more beneficiaries into its empowerment initiatives.
Appealing for greater support, she said about 90 per cent of the foundation’s beneficiaries are indigenous residents from disadvantaged backgrounds and called on corporate organisations, philanthropists and development partners to partner with the foundation to expand its programmes.
Also speaking, the Enugu State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu, praised the foundation for sustaining the vision of its late founder.
He expressed optimism that the foundation, which has concentrated its interventions in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, would extend its humanitarian services to other communities and urged well-meaning Nigerians and donor agencies to support its activities.
