The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has awarded N1.5million to over 30 indigent students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, NAU Awka, Anambra state.
Speaking during the award presentation at the university auditorium, the ASUU-NAU Chairperson, Stephen Ufoaroh said the gesture which would be annual was part of ASUU-NAU social responsibility to the students and their parents.
Ufoaroh expressed optimism that the assistance would reduce school dropouts and curtail criminality, noting that funds were raised by members to enable indigent students pay their fees.
He said:
“Despite the fact that all academic staff of the university are owed salaries between four and twelve months, ASUU-NAU members still saw the need to help in alleviating the suffering of our students, who have also borne the pain of the ruling class insensitivity to the plights of the masses of this country.
“The scholarship award is another evidence that ASUU, as a union, understands the plight of our students and as such we will go any length to protect the interest of our students, which have made us to resist every attempt by the Federal Government to introduce tuition fee in public universities.”
The ASUU-NAU Chairperson challenged the beneficiaries to see ASUU as partners in the struggle to save the soul of public universities, urging the beneficiaries to deploy the funds for the purpose it was meant for.
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The university Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone applauded the ASUU-NAU leadership and members, describing the event as landmark and timely, particularly as there is record of economic hardship on people in the country.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Students Union Government President, Samuel Jude, acknowledged the leadership of ASUU-NAU for creating such a platform to assist the indigent students.
The Nation News reports that the beneficiaries who received N50,000 each for the 2019/2020 academic session were selected from across various faculties of the University.
