Prada Uzodimma, the daughter of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has awarded law school scholarship to 15 students under the 2023 programme of the annual Prada Uzodimma Law School Scholarship Grant (PUSG).

The recipients were unveiled at an award ceremony organised by the PUSG in Abuja on Saturday, December 16, 2023.

Uzodimma said the PUSG scheme had earlier in September announced the opening of its portal for the 2023 prospective applicants across the country.

She stated that over 200 students applied for the scholarship, saying 15 were painstakingly selected by the screening committee.

The governor’s daughter noted that the number of beneficiaries in 2023 was the highest since the inception of the programme.

Uzodimma explained that the scheme was an annual educational and philanthropic project to provide financial support to selected indigent law school aspirants across Nigeria.

She said: “Today as we reflect on the remarkable journey of the Prada Uzodimmma Law School Scholarship Grant, it is essential to trace its roots back to my own time at the Nigerian law school in 2017.

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“I attended the law school in 2017 and my set had to raise money for a number of students who could not afford to write the Nigerian Bar exams because they could not pay their fees.

“As a set, we had to come together to contribute some funds to support some students, unfortunately, we could not support all such students.

“Then I realised that this is the case of many students that attend the Nigerian Law School, as most of them have the passion to be called lawyers, but are unable to sponsor themselves.

“Distinguishing itself from other scholarships, the Prada Uzodimmma Law School Scholarship Grant is aimed exclusively at indigent students, bypassing the conventional emphasis on their academic grades.

“The focus is not on the smartest student but on the indigent students, we are giving indigent students the opportunity of becoming lawyers.”

Uzodimma added that the law school scholarship grant was launched in partnership with Principle Legal Consult in 2021, with five beneficiaries.

She assured of her commitment towards ensuring that more indigent students realise their dreams of becoming lawyers.

She, therefore, urged Nigerians of goodwill and philanthropists to support the programme.

The Director General of the Nigeria Law School, Prof. Isa Chiroma, appreciated Uzodimma for founding the PUSG towards ensuring that aspiring lawyers have their dream come through.

Chiroma, who was represented by Dr Beatrice Shuwa, urged the recipients of the scholarship to work hard to justify their inclusion in the scheme.

The Star