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CALABAR — All Progressives Congress (APC), Ward 6, Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, has rolled out a scholarship initiative for pupils in polling unit 16 of the ward, with 20 beneficiaries receiving N20,000 each as education support.
The initiative, sponsored by Hon. Archibong Orok, Leader of Polling Unit 16 in Ward 6, was designed to support parents with the educational needs of their children as schools prepare to resume.
Speaking at the presentation, Orok said the initiative was part of efforts by members of the polling unit to contribute to human development while appreciating the administration of Governor Bassey Otu for what he described as interventions in the area.
He said the ward had been challenged to improve its voting figures ahead of the 2027 general elections, adding that the initiative was therefore aimed at combining human development with political mobilisation.
According to him, 20 pupils from government primary schools, whose parents are registered voters in Polling Unit 16, were selected as beneficiaries.
Orok said the initiative was deliberately kept low-key to ensure that the scholarship reached its intended beneficiaries rather than becoming a large political gathering.
He further stated that the polling unit was working towards increasing its support for the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
“By December 2026, we will assure you that we will have over 700 persons voting for the APC in PU 16,” he said.
He also urged beneficiaries and their parents to see the scholarship as an investment in education and a demonstration of the party's commitment to human development.
Chairman of Calabar South Local Government Area and chairman of the occasion, Pastor Patrick Archibong, described the scholarship as a means of reducing the financial burden on parents and helping children remain in school.
Archibong said supporting children's education could also help protect them from child abuse and other social challenges associated with being out of school.
He commended the sponsor for the initiative and urged parents to ensure that the money was used for the educational needs of their children.
Also speaking, the President of the National Association of Calabar South Students Worldwide, Ruth Asuquo, said the initiative was more than a scholarship presentation, describing it as an investment in the future of the community.
Asuquo said financial difficulties remained a major barrier to education for many families, adding that supporting pupils would help create opportunities for the next generation.
She encouraged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously, develop themselves and use the opportunity to become sources of positive impact in society.
The Supervisor for Education in Calabar South, Lawrence Ekeng Inyang, who gave the vote of thanks, commended the initiative and said he would encourage similar interventions in his own ward.
He advised the parents to use the N20,000 strictly for the educational needs of their children, including school uniforms and exercise books, particularly as schools are expected to resume soon.
The APC Chairman of Ward 6, Paul Offiong Etim, expressed support for the initiative and pledged to work towards its sustainability.
Speaking on behalf of the parents, Comrade Ekeng Kubianga thanked Orok for the gesture, saying it was consistent with the People First agenda of the administration of Governor Bassey Otu.
Other dignitaries at the event included Hon. Archibong Ironbar, caucus leader and chapter chairman of the APC in Calabar South, among others.
The organisers said the scholarship initiative would be sustained as part of efforts to support education and human development within the ward.
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