The Aguleri Foundation of North America, AFNA, has awarded scholarships to 11 new Aguleri nursing students for 2026, raising its total number of nursing student scholarship beneficiaries from Aguleri to 19, President Mr. Emma Ivenso has announced.
The Scholarship awards in Nursing are in Memory of Mama Eliza Onuora the renowned Traditional Birth Attendant who hailed from Umuenini Enugwu Aguleri and married to an Umuekete Igboezunu husband. Mama Eliza as was fondly called was also a philanthropist and lover of education. Among her achievements was training her brother Teacher Michael Obadiegwu through the university. Teacher Michael Obadiegwu returned home after his education to give back to the Aguleri community, and became the headmaster of Premier Primary school for many years, where he helped educate many children before his untimely death after a brief illness.
This AFNA Scholarship Program started under the AFNA Presidency of Lady Lizzy Nduba, herself an Advance Practice Nurse and philanthropist, who despite her marriage to an Ojoto husband has never forgotten her Aguleri roots. The program has been continued by her then VP and current AFNA President Emma Ivenso and his VP Ekene Asike-Inyiagu, who herself is married to Nimo and still has not forgotten about her Aguleri roots. This is a testament to not just our Aguleri men and our daughters, but to the support of their husbands and children, and the love they have for Aguleri.
AFNA's membership is made up of Aguleri sons and daughters, their husbands, wives and children, regardless of where they are married to. The foundation who's primary focus is Education of its members, said the new awardees were selected from all Ama in Aguleri with a great effort to make sure all Akwukwonato in Aguleri are represented, to foster wider education of Aguleri children and greater unity of our town Aguleri. This is in line with its mandate to support deserving students across the community.
Many applications were received but only 13 made it through the initial review. And of that list initially announced, one applicant could not complete the application process. Another completed the process and qualified but could not change her school admission from Anatomy to Nursing as the school deferred her application to change to 2027. AFNA in its magnanimity accepted to defer her award to 2027 once her school completes the change.
*2026 New Scholarship Recipients:*
1. Blessing Ngozi Emeka – Umueze, Igboezunu, Aguleri
2. Favour Tochukwu Anosike – Umunnoke, Ivite, Aguleri
3. Favour Ifeoma Egwuatu – Umuenini/Enugwu Ndida, Aguleri.
4. Mmesoma Stephanie Ikeli – Umuala, Eziaguluotu, Aguleri.
5. Chiamaka Josephine Igwemma – Umuekwe, Enugwu, Aguleri
6. Blessing Somtochukwu Akabueze - UmuEzunu, Enugwu, Aguleri.
7. Helen Mmasichukwu Ifediora – Umumba, Igboezunu, Aguleri
8. Chinaza Emmanuela Ateli – Umuaga, Eziagulu, Aguleri.
9. Chioma Esther Agbata – Umuanevili, Eziagulu Otu, Aguleri
10. Chidimma Favour Okafor – Umuaga, Eziagulu, Aguleri.
11. Queen Chizoba Nweke - Okene, Igboezunu, Aguleri.
*Current AFNA Nursing Scholars:*
1. Chinyere Christopher-Nnate - Igbiezunu, Aguleri.
2. Chinasa Favour Nnaluo – Amerulu, Ivite, Aguleri
3. Etiaka Chinaja – Umungalagu, Ivite, Aguleri.
4. Stephanie Otitochukwu Akwuobi – Umuriabor, Eziagulu, Aguleri.
5. Chidimma Augustine Manafa – Eziagulu
6. Michael Edozie Idigo – Eziagulu
7. Salome Onyibor – Eziagulu
8. Chinelo Idigo – Eziagulu
Mr. Ivenso said AFNA is committed to expanding access to nursing education for Aguleri youths. "It is a gift all of us in AFNA, men, women, and especially our children, are happy to give to Aguleri children and our town."