…Reaffirms Support for Indigent Students Through Future Forward Scholars
Uche Kalu
The League of Anambra Professionals (LAP) has released ₦400,000 each to 36 beneficiaries as the first tranche of its Future Forward Scholarship, selecting recipients from the three senatorial zones of Anambra State.
The January 2026 payment marks the full rollout of the initiative, moving the programme from pledge to implementation after its formal unveiling on December 5, 2025, during an education-focused event held in Awka.
The Future Forward Scholarship was designed to support indigent but academically outstanding students, ensuring that financial challenges do not hinder access to quality education. Each beneficiary is entitled to ₦1 million per academic year to cover tuition, accommodation and monthly living expenses.
At the unveiling, LAP President, Nnamdi Obi, represented by the Deputy President and Chair of the Education Committee, Elizabeth Ifeyinwa Jibunoh, described the initiative as a response to growing concerns about the number of brilliant students forced to abandon their education due to financial hardship.
She explained that the scholarship stemmed from a fundamental question posed by the president: how the League could create a structured support system for indigent students across the state.
From over 300 qualified applications received, 12 students were selected from each senatorial zone, bringing the total number of scholars for the 2025/2026 academic session to 36. The League said the number of beneficiaries would increase as more funds become available.
To ensure accountability and efficient fund management, LAP partnered with Fidelity Bank as its anchor bank. Beneficiaries opened dedicated accounts for the disbursement of stipends and future payments, alongside financial literacy training to promote responsible money management.
Beyond financial assistance, the League said the programme incorporates mentorship, leadership development, internships and exposure to professionals across various sectors. According to LAP, the broader goal is to nurture globally competitive graduates who remain committed to Anambra’s values of excellence, enterprise and service.
Reacting to the first disbursement, the president reaffirmed that the scholarship represents a long-term investment in the intellectual and socio-economic future of the state.
“The Future Forward Scholars are not just beneficiaries; they are ambassadors of a renewed commitment to education, dignity and opportunity,” the League stated.
LAP also called on corporate organisations, institutions and well-meaning Ndi Anambra at home and in the diaspora to partner with the League to expand the initiative in subsequent academic years.
The League of Anambra Professionals is a non-partisan body of accomplished Anambra indigenes committed to promoting good governance, social development and capacity building across the state.
