ELIBRADA/Nigeria: The Hope in the Jungle Initiative (HITJI), a non-profit organisation focused on empowering children, youths and women in underserved and crime-prone communities, has presented award certificates to beneficiaries of its Maiden Master’s Scholarship Scheme and hosted a public lecture in Elibrada, Emohua Local Government Area.
The scholarship presentation took place during the community’s Annual Thanksgiving celebration on December 25, 2025, where beneficiaries of the 2024/2025 academic session were formally recognised in the presence of the paramount ruler, community leaders and residents. The certificates were presented by Vincent Weli, Director of Weather Forecasting Services.
Instituted in honour of distinguished community icons, the HITJI Master’s Scholarship Scheme supports outstanding students who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership potential. The 2024/2025 icons honoured were Simeon C. Amadi, Chief Judge of Rivers State; Chamberlain O. Agbada; and Charles E. O. Beke, a two-time commissioner and public administrator.
For the maiden edition, the scholarship supported one First-Class graduate with ₦500,000 and two Second-Class graduates with ₦300,000 each. Beneficiaries included Miss Desire Obisike, a First-Class graduate pursuing a Master’s degree in Library Studies at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, who received the Hon. Justice Simeon C. Amadi Scholarship for STEAM.
Others were Mr. Endurance Ogbonda Obilor, a Master’s student in Economics at the University of Port Harcourt, awarded the Dr. Chamberlain O. Agbada Scholarship for STEM, and Miss Esther Adanne Okara, a Master’s student in Economics at the University of Lagos, who received the Hon. (Prince) Charles E. O. Beke Scholarship for Management Science.
In her remarks, HITJI Founder Ijeoma Vincent-Akpu urged youths to explore opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), expressing concern that no applicants from STEM fields applied in the last scholarship cycle despite expanding global opportunities in the sector.
On December 26, 2025, HITJI further hosted a community public lecture at the Elibrada Town Hall with the theme “Building Trust in Enhancing Community Development.” The lecture examined trust as a foundation for sustainable growth, focusing on how trust is built, factors that undermine it and the impact of misinformation.
Speakers at the event included Pastor Miracle Okorode, Engr. Chibueze Sam-Obisike, Prof. Vincent-Akpu and Prof. Joy Amesi, while participants made personal commitment pledges to uphold trust and integrity in community relations.
During the event, HITJI also announced the winners of the 2025/2026 Master’s Scholarship call, whose certificates will be presented at a later date. The latest scholarship call was extended to applicants across Emohua Local Government Area.
Established in 2017 following Prof. Vincent-Akpu’s participation in the U.S. Government-sponsored TechWomen Exchange Programme, HITJI has implemented education, training, capacity-building and community development initiatives across Niger Delta communities.
According to Prof. Vincent-Akpu, the organisation has partnered with bodies such as Hanceff International, the Bank of Agriculture, Emohua Local Government Council and the Elibrada Environmental Education Network (Ecocenter Elibrada) to deliver training, awareness and development programmes.
She disclosed that the scholarship scheme has so far been personally sponsored by her and her husband as part of their commitment to giving back to society, adding that the initiative is open to individuals and organisations willing to sponsor awards in honour of donors or nominees of their choice.
