Manny Ita –
Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing the Cross River South Senatorial District, has provided financial empowerment to 1,032 students through a cash award of ₦110,000 each to assist with their academic expenses. The disbursement took place during an education support ceremony in Calabar on February 4, 2026, drawing a diverse group of undergraduate and postgraduate beneficiaries from federal and state universities, colleges of education, and various health and nursing institutions. While the program was originally structured to provide ₦100,000 per student, the lawmaker announced an additional ₦10,000 as “lunch support,” bringing the total individual grant to ₦110,000 and the total project expenditure to over ₦113 million.
Addressing the students at the event, Senator Ekpenyong characterized the investment in education as a vital component for human capital development and sustainable regional growth. He challenged the beneficiaries to focus on the broader implications of the initiative, stating, “I urge all the students to look beyond the financial assistance and take their studies very seriously. Draw your inspiration from what you have seen. Most especially the developmental strides in the state.” The lawmaker further linked the local intervention to federal and state policies, noting that “the People’s First administration of Governor Bassey Otu and Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu are steadily transforming the state and the nation.”
Student leaders and beneficiaries at the event described the financial intervention as a significant relief amid the current economic climate. Ewelu Ewelu, the President of the Postgraduate Students’ Union at the University of Cross River State, lauded the timing and scale of the disbursement. “His intervention is legendary and impactful in easing the financial burden faced by students,” Ewelu remarked, adding that the “intervention will ease the financial burden faced by students on campus. And we appreciate him for this gesture.” The program concluded with the direct distribution of funds to the verified students as part of the Senator’s ongoing constituency development agenda.
