By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
A humanitarian wave of support has swept through parts of Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, as beneficiaries of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) foreign scholarship programme returned home to invest in the future of young learners.
The initiative, known as the Ripple Project, is driven by two United Kingdom-trained scholars, Engineer Abasi Ekpenyong Ndarake and Mr. Monday Obio, who were beneficiaries of the scholarship facilitated by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong.
What began as a life-changing academic opportunity abroad has now translated into direct educational support for hundreds of students across the communities of Asang Eniong Abatim, Atan Onoyom and Ukwa Eburutu.
In a swift and coordinated outreach, the scholars paid school fees and distributed learning materials, easing financial burdens on families and ensuring that many students remain in school despite prevailing economic challenges.
At Government Secondary School, Asang Eniong Abatim, the intervention covered the school fees of all students from Junior Secondary School One to Senior Secondary School Two, a gesture described by school authorities as unprecedented.
A similar intervention was recorded at St. George’s Primary School, Atan Onoyom, where all pupils benefited from full tuition support, restoring hope to several households struggling to meet basic educational costs.
At Community Secondary School, Ukwa Ibom, 28 students had their fees fully paid, while eight top-performing pupils at PCN Primary School, Asang Eniong Abatim were rewarded with full educational support in recognition of academic excellence.
Beyond tuition payments, the outreach extended to Comprehensive Secondary School, Atan Onoyom and Unity Academy Nursery and Primary School, where exercise books and other learning materials were distributed to support classroom activities.
In total, over 100 students benefited from direct fee payments, while more than 1,000 notebooks were distributed across the three communities, broadening the reach of the intervention.
Speaking on the initiative, Engineer Ndarake described the project as a personal commitment to give back, noting that the support he received through the scholarship programme shaped his journey and inspired him to uplift others.
Mr. Obio also acknowledged the role of Senator Ekpenyong in opening doors to international opportunities, stressing that the Ripple Project reflects the power of investing in people and communities.
Community leaders, school authorities and beneficiaries have continued to commend the gesture, describing it as timely and impactful, particularly in remote areas where access to educational support is limited.
Observers say the initiative highlights the multiplier effect of human capital development, as beneficiaries of a single intervention are now creating a broader circle of opportunity, igniting a culture of giving and responsibility among the next generation.
