Dr. David Olofu, the former Commissioner for Finance in a bid to aid Idoma students across tertiary institutions across the 9 local government areas of Benue South, have established a N50 million Education Support Fund.
Dr. David Olofu, the former Commissioner for Finance in Benue State, has established a N50 million Education Support Fund to aid Idoma students in tertiary institutions across the nine Local Government Areas of Benue South.
Olofu, who previously chaired the Forum of Commissioners for Finance in Nigeria and is currently a Senior Technical Advisor to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, initiated this fund to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to support students.
Originally, Olofu was to receive a chieftaincy title from the Idoma Area Traditional Council in Otukpo, but the event was canceled just 48 hours prior, allegedly at the governor’s directive. No official statement has been released by the governor’s office.
At a press conference in Otukpo, Olofu stated that instead of being disheartened by the cancellation, he decided to use the funds raised for the event to assist Idoma students.
“In the past few days, I was to be conferred with a chieftaincy title by the Idoma Area Traditional Council. Despite preparations and support from friends, colleagues, and associates, the event was canceled less than 48 hours before it was to take place. Therefore, I decided to allocate the remaining funds to support Idoma students,” Olofu explained.
Olofu recounted his struggles as a student at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, where he worked as a waiter to fund his education. This experience motivated him to assist current students facing similar challenges.
The Education Support Fund, launched under the Apa Legacy Sustainability Initiative, starts with an initial N20 million and aims to grow by N10 million annually, reaching a total of N50 million.
Olofu named Professor David Salifu, a senior lecturer at Federal University Wukari and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), as the chairman of the Board of Trustees for the fund.
The board includes representatives from the National Association of Idoma Students (NAIS), the Idoma Area Traditional Council, civil society, and Hon. Owoicho Oyi, former chairman of Apa Local Government, as the secretary.
Professor Salifu praised the initiative and encouraged other Idoma leaders to follow Olofu’s example.
NAIS President Comrade Vincent Odebugu expressed gratitude, highlighting the significant impact the fund will have on Idoma students.
In their remarks, Hon. Chris Adaba Abba, a PDP chieftain, and Comrade Joe Ochogwu, former NAIS National President, commended Olofu’s generosity and urged other leaders to emulate his commitment to education.
They emphasized that supporting students during these challenging times is a commendable and virtuous act.
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