Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain and former governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has announced a new scholarship scheme for top-performing university students, urging leaders to move away from political “handouts” in favour of long-term skills training. Speaking at a virtual and in-person event to mark his 62nd birthday, Ikpeazu unveiled the Dovis Scholarship Scheme, which will fund students achieving first-class grades on the condition that they maintain their academic standing.
Addressing an international audience at the fifth annual Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Colloquium, the former governor argued that genuine youth empowerment requires structured education, mentorship, and enterprise support rather than short-term cash distributions.”The most effective form of empowerment is not the distribution of handouts, but the deliberate building of human capacity,” Ikpeazu said.
Focus on practical skills
Reflecting on his tenure as governor of southeastern Abia State between 2015 and 2023, Ikpeazu pointed to agricultural and manufacturing initiatives as models for sustainable development. He cited state-backed poultry clusters that provided young entrepreneurs with facilities, veterinary support, and practical farm management training before they launched independent businesses.
Keynote speaker John Ihendinihu, a professor of accounting and taxation at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, echoed these views, stating that empowerment should be measured by the long-term capacity created rather than immediate aid. Professor Ihendinihu highlighted previous industrial initiatives in the commercial hub of Aba—including automated shoe and garment factories and international training for local artisans—as examples of shifting focus from consumption to local production.
Diplomatic role
Ikpeazu, who was appointed ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain by President Bola Tinubu, also used the platform to voice support for current federal economic reforms aimed at stabilizing Africa’s most populous nation.
The colloquium, organized by the Pa Ismael Ikpeazu Library and the DOVI Scientific Leadership Centre under the theme “Empowerment Beyond Handouts: Building Responsible, Skilled and Self-Reliant Young People for Sustainable Development,” brought together diplomats, academics, and political associates from across the globe.
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