Date: 31 July, 2026
By Jane Daniel
The Enugu State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to human capital development and poverty reduction, as Governor Peter Mbah’s administration continues to prioritise programmes that improve the lives of residents.
Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, stated this on Friday at the fifth anniversary of the Chijioke Ugwueze Memorial Foundation (CUMEF) in Enugu.
He commended the Foundation for sustaining the humanitarian legacy of the late Chijioke Ugwueze through scholarships, empowerment programmes and support for vulnerable groups, describing its interventions as a worthy partner in the state’s poverty eradication drive.
Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Prof. Sam Ugwu, said CUMEF has, in the last five years, impacted lives through university scholarships, business grants for widows, educational support, medical assistance and youth empowerment programmes.
Also speaking, former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Edward Ubosi, described the late Ugwueze as a compassionate leader whose legacy continues to uplift the less privileged, while pledging continued support for the Foundation.
Founder of CUMEF, Mrs. Amaka Ugwueze, said the Foundation was established to fulfil her late husband’s vision of empowering widows, unemployed youths, women and persons with disabilities. She disclosed that the Foundation has so far provided full university scholarships to 14 indigent but academically outstanding students, alongside several other humanitarian interventions.
“The scholarship programme as an investment in the future of the communities, because education remains one of the most sustainable tools for breaking the cycle of poverty.
“Beyond education, the CUMF has continued to promote social cohesion through annual novelty football matches aimed at engaging young people, fostering unity, and encouraging healthy interaction among community members.
“99 per cent of the beneficiaries are indigenous residents from less privileged backgrounds, which underscores the growing need for expanded humanitarian interventions.
“We therefore appealed to corporate organisations, philanthropic individuals, and development partners to support our programmes, to enable us extend scholarships, empowerment initiatives, and welfare services to more indigent persons”, she noted.
