By Osegbue Patricia
The Onitsha Advancement Foundation (OnAF), in partnership with Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme, on Aug. 11 has awarded full undergraduate scholarships to two indigent girls from Onitsha.
The beneficiaries, Barbara Nzubechukwu Egbuji of Umudei Village and Victoria Chiemelie Munonyedi of Umuase Village, both in Onitsha North local government area, will study Strategic Communication and Mass Communication, respectively, at PAU, Lagos.
They emerged from a grassroots recruitment and selection exercise involving 82 applicants, which commenced in March 2025. Following the initial screening, 10 candidates were shortlisted for further interviews and assessments by PAU, from which Egbuji and Munonyedi emerged as the final beneficiaries on April 22, 2026.
The process was coordinated by the OnAF Scholarship Recruitment Committee, led by Mrs. Azumdialo Thelma Chiwuzie, in collaboration with the OnAF Coordinator, Dr. Rita Melifonwu. The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, mentorship, leadership development and career support.
Melifonwu described the partnership as a “game changer”, saying it would help bridge the gap between young people’s potential and access to quality higher education, particularly for those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
For the beneficiaries, the scholarships have eased financial challenges that could have hindered their pursuit of higher education. Egbuji said the award had relieved the financial burden on her family, while Munonyedi, who took up different jobs after secondary school due to financial constraints, described it as the beginning of a brighter future.
OnAF said it planned to expand the initiative by commencing recruitment earlier, widening community outreach and introducing JAMB preparatory classes, career guidance and mentoring for SS2 and SS3 students.
Melifonwu said the Foundation also intended to engage the beneficiaries as role models and Wellbeing Ambassadors during holidays, while encouraging them to contribute to the social and economic development of Onitsha.
The Foundation expressed appreciation to PAU and the Mastercard Foundation for the partnership and reaffirmed its commitment to creating more educational opportunities for deserving young people in Onitsha.
Osegbue Patricia is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
