Senator Austin Akobundu, representing Abia Central Senatorial District, has declared that no child in the district should abandon education because of poverty, reaffirming his commitment to expanding access to higher education.

The lawmaker pledged while presenting scholarships to 114 students drawn from various Tertiary Institutions, describing education as the most powerful investment any society can make in securing its future.

Under the programme, each beneficiary received ₦200,000 to support tuition and other academic expenses, while Akobundu also approved the payment of ₦7.2 million in tuition fees for students of a teachers' training institute as part of efforts to strengthen teacher education and human capital development across the district.

“No child in Abia Central should quit school because of poverty,” the senator stated, stressing that every young person deserves the opportunity to pursue education and realise their full potential irrespective of economic background.

Akobundu described education as the foundation of national development, arguing that investments in students today would produce future leaders, professionals, innovators, and entrepreneurs capable of transforming society.

He urged the beneficiaries to remain focused on their studies and justify the confidence placed in them through excellence, discipline, and good character, while cautioning them against cultism, drug abuse, examination malpractice, and other social vices that could jeopardise their future.

The senator explained that the scholarship scheme forms part of his broader commitment to youth empowerment and human capital development in Abia Central, adding that education remains one of the most effective tools for reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development.

Beneficiaries described the financial support as timely, given rising tuition costs and living expenses, with several noting that the scholarship would ease pressure on their parents and guardians while allowing them to focus fully on their studies.

Education stakeholders commended the initiative, observing that targeted scholarship interventions improve access to higher education while helping reduce educational inequality and promote social mobility, and called on political office holders, corporate organisations, and public spirited individuals to replicate Akobundu's example.

The scholarship award comes amid renewed national conversations on improving access to education and tackling poverty related school dropouts, with experts stressing that sustained investment in learners remains critical to building a skilled workforce and achieving long term national development.