Benjamin Kalu awards scholarships to orphans in Cross River State

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has awarded full scholarships to two young orphans at Infant Jesus Orphanage in Calabar, Cross River State, covering their education from primary school to university.

During his visit, Kalu also donated N2 million in cash and supplied food items to the orphanage.

His visit was part of activities marking the 37th Convocation and 50th Anniversary celebrations of the University of Calabar, his alma mater, where he delivered the convocation lecture.

The scholarship beneficiaries, Chidera Emmanuela Maduka and Chimankpa Emmanuel Maduka, 12-year-old twins, expressed their aspiration to study law when Kalu asked the children about their career ambitions. Moved by his gesture, some members of the House of Representatives who accompanied him contributed N1 million, while members of his 1998 Faculty of Law class at the university donated N300,000.

Similarly, John Bosco Onunkwo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, contributed N200,000, and members of the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P) donated N500,000. The total donations reached N4 million.

Addressing newsmen, after the visit, Kalu emphasized that his goal was to establish a sustainable support programme for the orphanage.

The coordinator of the orphanage home, Sister Chinyere Chukwuka, expressed gratitude for the donations and prayed for blessings on Kalu and his team.

Reporting by Tanimu Salihu; Editing by Jennifer Ogor and Adeniyi Bakare