The Alex Otti Foundation has commenced her selection process for the 2021 Undergraduates Scholarship Program .

This was announced in a press conference that held in Umuahia on Saturday April 17, 2021, covered by AF NEWS.

 

The Executive Director of Alex Otti Foundation, Chinedu Ekeke, said the scholarship program which commenced officially in 2020 is targeted towards residents and indigenes of Abia State who are Undergraduates in public tertiary institutions.

 

” The scholarship is for natives of Abia State and other Students who are not of Abia origin, but are residents in Abia State. It covers universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, college of education, school of nursing, among others.”

 

” The students must be in their 200 level and must have up to 3.5CGP for university students, and 2.5CGP for polytechnics”

 

According to Mr Ekeke, the selection process for the scholarship involves online registration in the Foundation’s website, uploading of relevant documents, essay writing of not less than 900 words, interview, and the selection of winners.

 

” We give them essays to write. Our consultants in the United States mark and push back the results, then we send a mail inviting qualified candidates for an interview.

” The students are interviewed to know their leadership qualities. We want brilliant students to harness the opportunity.

” Our objective is to raise leaders. We spend about 15 to 20 million in a year in respect of the scholarship program.

 

Responding on the funding, Ekeke said;

“Dr Alex Otti is the main financier of the project, but we have people who voluntarily donate to the program. We are still open to partnership.

 

Mr Ekeke said the number students selected at the end of the process, are determined by the number that met all the requirements.

 

” We don’t have a fixed number for the selection. As many that meet our cut off, we award them scholarship.

” Last year, 52 students applied, but 32 met the cut off.

” The winners receive N150,000 into their Access bank account for each semester. But they need to maintain the approved CGP, if not, they will loose the scholarship.”

 

Reacting also, the Head Corporate Communications, Mr Destiny Isiguzo said;

 

” One of the drive of the foundation is the personality of Dr Alex Otti.

” He has looked back and thought of what to give back to the society.

” The scholarship program is not a one time program, it is continuous until they graduate. When they graduate, we will seek for opportunities outside the country for their masters programs.”

 

On the call for application he said;

” we use various platforms like our website, radio, and television adverts, it runs for at least a month to allow students apply.

” The call for application usually starts June/July, by November, selection commences. But because of Covid 19 and strike, it was delayed.”

 

AF-NEWS spoke with some of the participants including Aguiyi Goodluck a 200 level Law student in the Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

 

Goodluck said;

” I heard about the scholarship program through WhatsApp. I followed the link and applied.

“It was last month that I received a mail and a text message also for an interview today, I was even surprised.

 

” I think the selection process is on merit, they are not biased.

“The journey has been memorable. I got breakfast, lunch and transport fare to go back to school. Even if I don’t get selected, am okay because I was even wondering how I would go back to school.

” Feeding someone for a whole day is not easy, I wasn’t expecting it”.

 

The Foundation said, selected winners will be notified in a week or two.