ASABA/Nigeria: A total of 513 undergraduates have qualified for financial support under the 2026 Monday Onyeme Foundation Scholarship after aptitude tests were conducted for applicants from Aniocha/Oshimili and Ika federal constituencies in Delta State.
The successful candidates emerged from separate examinations held on Saturday and Sunday at Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, and the University of Delta, Agbor, respectively.
The scholarship, an annual initiative sponsored by Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, provides a minimum of N200,000 to each successful candidate, with additional cash rewards for the highest-performing applicants.
In the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, 650 undergraduates were shortlisted for the test, while 474 eventually sat for the examination. Onyeme, who supervised the exercise at Dennis Osadebay University, said 301 candidates passed.
He said the successful applicants would be selected across the wards in the constituency, with eight beneficiaries to be drawn from each ward.
The deputy governor congratulated the successful candidates, describing their performance as an improvement over the previous edition of the scholarship programme.
Beyond the standard N200,000 award, Onyeme said the overall highest scorer from the constituency would receive an additional N200,000, while candidates who placed second and third would receive extra N150,000 and N100,000 respectively.
The top performance in the Aniocha/Oshimili test came from Ubaka Treasure of Aniocha South Ward 4, who scored 45 marks. Ubaka Daniel of Aniocha North and Ojenuwa Chukwueme of Oshimili South jointly occupied second position after scoring 44 marks each.
Treasure, a student of International Relations at Admiralty University, Ibusa, expressed appreciation for the scholarship and thanked Onyeme for providing financial assistance to undergraduates.
The exercise moved to Ika Federal Constituency on Sunday, with the University of Delta, Agbor, serving as the venue.
Onyeme disclosed that 650 students had also been shortlisted in the constituency, while 478 candidates eventually took the test. Of that number, 212 were successful, comprising 108 candidates from Ika North-East and 104 from Ika South.
The deputy governor, who was received by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delta, Prof. Eric Eboh, said the turnout and performance represented an improvement on previous editions.
He said each successful candidate would receive N200,000, while the highest scorer would get an additional N200,000. The second and third positions would attract additional N150,000 and N100,000 respectively.
Ojeme Goodness of Ika South emerged as the highest scorer in the Ika test with 51 marks. Idioma Peace, also from Ika South, scored 50 marks to take second place, while Akoreh Michael of Ika North-East came third with 47 marks.
Onyeme said the competitive nature of the scholarship was intended to encourage academic effort among young people, adding that applicants who were unsuccessful this year would have another opportunity to apply in subsequent editions.
He said the scholarship exercise would continue with the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, where another batch of undergraduates would sit for the aptitude test.
The deputy governor also disclosed that the foundation would announce the date for the presentation of cheques to beneficiaries after the completion of the various stages of the exercise.
The scholarship scheme is part of Onyeme’s efforts to provide educational support to undergraduates across Delta North Senatorial District.
