Gov Ikpeazu awards scholarship to Abia-born electricity transformer innovator

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has awarded a 5 year full scholarship to Mr Solomon Ukoha who constructed an electricity substation from locally sourced materials.

The Governor made this known on Monday at his lodge in Aba while receiving the 24-year-old, who is a native of Amaekpu in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.

Solomon whose video had gone viral led to his recognition by the Governor.

According to Ikpeazu, the scholarship is for him to further his education in any tertiary institution of his choice.

The governor expressed joy over the technical ingenuity exhibited by the young innovator noting that Abia has youths who can compete favourably with their international counterparts in technical education if given the opportunity.

The governor explained that power supply has been a major problem facing the country and as such has impacted negatively on economic growth and industrialization especially in the shoe, leather and garments sub-sectors for which Aba is well known.

The governor encouraged Solomon to train some other youths and impart some knowledge to them for the greater benefit of society after he tested the trial substation before the Governor.

He however encouraged him to build a more presentable prototype of the substation to enable it to compete in external exhibitions revealing that the scholarship covers his tuition fee and accommodation immediately after he gets admission.

Showcasing his innovation to the governor, Mr Solomon Ukoha who said he has completed his secondary school education without any hope of going to the university due to financial challenges revealed that he got the inspiration from God.

He appealed to the state governor to assist him further his education, a step he said would help him greatly in fulfilling his ambition and expressed his readiness to teach other youths as advised by the governor.