Background
On the 11th of October 2024, the Committee on Implementation of the Human Capital Development Bye-Law was inaugurated. The committee, chaired by Prof. Bethrand Amechi Ngwu, was mandated to implement various human capital development initiatives, including the Greater Tomorrow Scholarship Scheme.
The scheme aimed to identify the “best of the best” among Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3) students and sponsor their education through Senior Secondary School (SS1 to SS3) with the potential for continued sponsorship at the tertiary level.
Selection Process
Registration and First Screening
1,478 SS1 students registered for the program. On 9th November 2024, 1,168 students participated in the first screening examination held at Annunciation Secondary School, Nkwo Nike. From this examination, the top 150 students were selected and invited for a second screening.
Second Screening Examination
The second screening examination took place on 30th November 2024 at the Enugu East Local Government Council. The Executive Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary of the Council actively participated in invigilation to ensure transparency and integrity.
Grading and Announcement
Grading commenced at the office of the Executive Chairman at 5:45 PM on 30th November 2024 and concluded at 2:15 AM on 1st December 2024. The list of selected students was officially announced by the Executive Chairman at 3:00 PM the same day.
We want to empower families, by giving a child from the poorest home the opportunity of attending the best school.
They will be able to mixup with children of Senators, Governors, Top Business Men and create the right network for their future.
Selection Criteria
The selection process was guided by three primary criteria:
- Merit: Students who scored 75% and above (11 in total) were automatically placed on the merit list.
- Polling Units: Additional students were selected based on representation across polling units.
- Communities: Representation from communities was considered, provided they met the merit-based threshold.
Note: Communities with no participants in the final examination were disqualified, as the scheme was fundamentally merit-based, and it would have been unethical to compromise merit for representation.
Final Outcome
A total of 50 students successfully scaled through:
- Merit List: 11 students.
- Polling Units and Communities: 39 students.
On the 7th of February, a total of ₦31,877,255.00 was paid out as the full scholarship for these students, who are now enjoying their studies in the top secondary schools in the country. The programme was designed to support them through to their Senior Secondary School (SS3).
