Free UTME Scholarship: Group Enrols 10,000 Anambra Students, Targets 50,000 in S’east

By Praise Chinecherem

The South East Renewed Hope Agenda (SERHA) has commenced registration of 10,000 students in Anambra State under its free Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) scholarship initiative for the 2026 examination.

Flagging off the programme in Onitsha, National Coordinator of SERHA, Hon. Belusochukwu Enwere, said the intervention forms part of broader educational support scheme targeted at 50,000 students across the South East geopolitical zone.

He explained that the initiative is designed to ease the financial burden on parents and guardians while expanding access to tertiary education for indigent but academically qualified candidates in the region.

Describing the examination, conducted by JAMB remains as critical requirement for admission into higher institutions in Nigeria, Enwere lamented inability of many brilliant students to participate due to financial constraints.

He disclosed that Federal Government has established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to provide financial support for students seeking admission into tertiary institutions, urging prospective beneficiaries to obtain their National Identification Number (NIN) to access the scheme.

“The scholarship programme aligns with the youth focused educational support policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at promoting equal access to education and investing in the human capital development of young Nigerians,” he added.

Enwere urged beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity by preparing adequately for the examination, describing the scholarship as demonstration of confidence in their academic potentials.

Earlier, SERHA Coordinator in Anambra State, Comrade Alphonsus Muonagolu, expressed optimism that students drawn from the 21 local government areas of the state would benefit from the intervention.

Some of the beneficiaries, including Ezenwabasili Cynthia and Chizoba Vincent lauded the initiative, describing it as timely support that would enable them to pursue their academic aspirations without financial hindrance.

They noted that the programme would significantly reduce the burden on their parents and provide a platform for students to gain admission into tertiary institutions across the country.