Awards scholarship, starter packs for beneficiaries
Compassion, generosity and the transformative power of education took centre stage on Thursday, March 5, 2026, as the Edet Ekpo Bassey Uwe Education Foundation (EEBUEF) celebrated its fifth anniversary with scholarship awards to 11 undergraduate students and presentation of starter packs to vocational trainees.
The colourful ceremony, held at the Ahta Okon Isong Hall of CEEDAPEG Hotels in Uyo, Nigeria, drew dignitaries from across Akwa Ibom State, including the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Essien Umoh, education stakeholders, beneficiaries and well-wishers.
In an emotional address, Lady Ekpo stressed that helping others does not require great wealth or close family ties, urging individuals to show compassion whenever possible.
“You need not be a millionaire or a relative of a person before you can help them. Just reach out and touch,” she said.
She narrated the story of a young man who was once sent out of a West African Examinations Council (WAEC) hall many years ago, because he could not pay his school fees.
Moved by compassion, Lady Ekpo said she stepped in and paid the fees, enabling the student to complete his examination.
“Today”, she said, “the same young man has risen to become a surgeon. The story demonstrates how a simple act of kindness can transform lives and shape destinies.”
Lady Ekpo who was flanked by the secretary of the fountain, Mr Eddie Akaduh, and a member, Barr (Mrs) Ekaette Anwana, traced her passion for education and philanthropy to the example set by her father, who, despite having no formal education, believed strongly in the value of learning.
“My father never went to school,” she recalled. “But he sacrificed his three plots of land and encouraged villagers to build a thatch house in Uboro Isong Inyang which was used as a school.”
According to her, the selfless act planted the seed that later grew into her own commitment to supporting education, especially for the underprivileged.
Since its establishment, the Edet Ekpo Bassey Uwe Education Foundation has implemented several programmes aimed at improving educational opportunities for disadvantaged children.
Lady Ekpo listed some of the foundation’s achievements over the past five years to include the distribution of back-to-school materials such as uniforms, school bags and books to 196 pupils; sponsorship of the first inter-house sports competition in the school, an initiative she said significantly increased school enrolment and boosted students’ morale; the introduction of Spelling Bee programme to enhance literacy and vocabulary; and the provision of palliative support to vulnerable members of the community, including Eyo-Abasi and Uddung Uko Eyo Okponung, during the COVID 19 pandemic.
Lady Ekpo further noted that the foundation has consistently funded its annual scholarship programme for 21 students over the past five years, all aimed at uplifting the less privileged and expanding access to education.
“All these are done to reach out and touch the downtrodden,” she said.
Lady Ekpo congratulated all beneficiaries and urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by remaining focused on their education and personal development, while remembering to extend similar acts of kindness to others in the future.
“I pray that this support will spur you to work harder and also reciprocate the same in the near future,” she said.
Also speaking, the Chairman on the occasion, Ikpoto Effiong Afiakurue, emphasised the life-changing value of education and the profound impact of those who support the educational aspirations of others.
According to him, education provides people with exposure and opens doors to opportunities that allow them to flourish in life.
Afiakurue commended Lady Ekpo for her generosity and dedication to uplifting the less privileged through education and empowerment in memory of her beloved father.
He noted that the event was not only about scholarship awards but also the unveiling of a book, which he believes would inspire and motivate beneficiaries and attendees alike.
Afiakurue advised the scholarship recipients and other beneficiaries to remain studious, humble and disciplined, reminding them that the support they received came with responsibility.
He urged them to work hard in their academic pursuits and to remember the importance of giving back when they become successful in the future.
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ubong Umoh, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Secondary Education Board, Mrs Ekerete Ebi, commended Lady Nkoyo Ekpo for her sacrifice in contributing to the success story of education sector in the state.
The highlight of the ceremony was the formal unveiling of Lady Ekpo’s memoir, Against All Odds: The Eagle Soars, performed by Pastor (Mrs) Gloria Umoh.
Reviewed by a renowned academic and former education commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Prof Atim Antai, the book recounts the author’s personal journey, struggles and triumphs, and aims to inspire readers to rise above challenges and pursue their dreams.
The event which was attended by government functionaries and community leaders, including the President, Oron Union Women’s Wing, Mrs Kate Hensley, ended on a note of gratitude and renewed commitment to the ideals of compassion, service and educational empowerment that define the Edet Ekpo Bassey Uwe Education Foundation.
