The Enugu State Government has awarded scholarship up to university level to a 6- year old boy, Master Chibuzor Offiah who lost his parents and four siblings in a road accident while fleeing Boko Haram attacks in Damaturu, Yobe State.
The Government in a ceremony held yesterday at the government House, Enugu also presented Master Offiah of Amani village Awhum in Udi local government area of the state with sets of school uniform, school bag, foot wears, clothes, beverages and a quarterly allowance of N50, 000 thousand naira for his up keep.
Presenting the items to the boy in the presence of his grandmother and two uncles, the State Commissioner for Gender Affairs Mrs. Ndidi Chukwu described the incident as very unfortunate recalling that Governor Chime had received the news with shock and had promptly dispatched a delegation led by his Chief Press Secretary Chukwudi Achife to console the family.
Mrs. Chukwu who was accompanied by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Good Governance Mrs. Tochi Eze sympathized with the family and said that Government took special interest on the welfare of the boy to cushion the effect of the tragedy on his life.
She said that staff of her ministry are also to make regular visits to the family at Awhum by to monitor his health and wellbeing
Receiving the items on behalf of the boy, his uncle Mr. Ben Offiah, thanked the Governor Chime for his the gesture saying it showed the high level of sensitivity and concern he has for the welfare of citizens of the state.
He described the road accident which claimed the lives of his brother and family as very painful but noted that the interest shown by the state government and promises made had consoled the family.
The road accident that claimed Master Offiah’s family occurred on 31stof January 2012 along Enugu-Kogi high way when they were returning their home town Awhum from their base in Yobe state to escape the Boko Haram attacks in that state.
The vehicle they were travelling in was however crushed in a collision with a trailer at Otupka Benue State with Chibuzor emerging as the only survivor.
