House Deputy Chief Whip Speaks on Scholarship Scheme for Indigent Students
- Urges Nigerians to reconnect with God
Udora Orizu in Abia
Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha has said that her past life of abject poverty made her decide to set up a scholarship scheme for indigent students.
The lawmaker who represents Isikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency of Abia State, testifying at “A Night of Pure Praise”, an annual thanksgiving ceremony she organized in her hometown to show gratitude to God on Tuesday, recalled that feeding then was a piece of luxury for her.
She said that while in Institute of Management Technology, (IMT) Enugu as a student, she couldn’t afford paltry N375 needed to continue her education at the time.
According to her, she was forced by the ugly circumstances to leave IMT and later got another admission into University of Nigeria, Nsukka where she also schooled without paying fees.
Onyejeocha said that she couldn’t have possibly reached the heights without God’s grace.
She therefore asked her constituents in particular and Nigerians in general to rededicate their themselves to God for use in the new year.
Noting that she survived many attacks in the outgoing year, 2021, Onyejeocha said it was then necessary to celebrate God with some notable gospel artistes such as Frank Edwards, Moses Bliss amongst others.
She said: “There are sometimes you don’t know how to thank God, you don’t even know how to cry. There are times tears will just disappear, you are at the lowest ebb of your life. And this year was one of those years. I have come to realize that satan tried but he failed. I know that many people prayed and are praying for me. I too, am praying for many people. I raise altar everyday of my life for people who are supporting me, people I know and those that I don’t know. We have God the father and so we thank you everyone. The devil could always wait especially when they think they know your time table but God disappointed them. We passed through many attacks, accidents, this year I lost someone who was very dear to me, somebody who gave me a gift that I can never even dispose. I had to go to Lagos to look for that particular sweater, my brother, somebody I grew up with my grandmother.
“If anybody heard my story and still belongs to the devil, the person is devil incarnate. For anybody to go through what I go through; I went to school I didn’t pay school fees but I graduated. I paid school fees after I got married and started working. It can only take God to do that. I slept in a mechanic workshop because I refuse to enter lift. I was very pretty. I couldn’t enter lift because my grandmother said don’t do that because they could kill you there. I saw vehicles but I refused to enter because I did not want to defile myself and so on.
“The testimony tonight is that after all I have been through, like Don Moen said, I still have joy. It’s difficult to have joy after all someone has been through. These days parents betray their children, wives betray their husbands, husbands kill their wives. Daughters, sons betray their parents. These days, brothers betray their brothers. Even though Cain and Abel had that experience but now it’s worst. In this time, what I’m telling you is that heaven is real, God is real. I have tested God. What I care is what Jesus says about me and what I know about myself and I know my redeemer liveth and I say there’s no way else to present the people of Isikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency apart from rededicating them to God. There is no way out apart from receiving Jesus as your Lord and personal saviour. The best thing to do is to rededicate our lives and praise God unconditionally.
In his brief message, Reverend Sunday Obioma Eze, Bishop of Ava East Diocese, eulogized Onyejeocha’s virtues, describing her as a woman of God.
Reading from the book of Luke 2:10, the Clergy noted that Christmas celebration signified good news of great joy to mankind.
He bemoaned the ravaging socioeconomic and security challenges, observing that many people who ought to travel to celebrate with their families and loved ones could not do so.
He said that despite the darkness which overshadowed the earth, God created light, and darkness cannot comprehend the light of the world which is Jesus.
The programme marked the climax of a series of humanitarian services, town hall meetings and thank you visits the lawmaker paid to her constituents within the Christmas period.
