MercyReach Africa has awarded scholarships to 10 indigent students of Government Secondary School, Ediba, in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, to ease the financial burden of education on disadvantaged families and help keep their children in school.
The scholarship initiative, supported by SMET Consult, a financial services and advisory company, alongside other corporate and individual partners, covers the educational expenses of the selected students for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Founder and Executive Director of MercyReach Africa, Mrs Mercy Njoku, said the beneficiaries were selected based on their financial circumstances and academic performance.
Njoku explained that the organisation was committed to providing practical assistance to children whose education might otherwise be disrupted by financial hardship.
She said her passion for humanitarian service was inspired by her personal experience as an indigent student who depended on support to continue her education.
According to her, MercyReach Africa has continued to expand its humanitarian interventions beyond scholarships. She disclosed that the organisation fed about 100 street children in Calabar, popularly and derogatorily referred to as ‘skolombo’, in the previous year.
She added that the organisation planned to broaden its programmes through support initiatives, webinars and skills-acquisition programmes to equip young people with opportunities for personal growth and economic development.
Njoku acknowledged the contributions of SMET Consult and other partners, noting that collaboration with socially responsible organisations and individuals was essential to extending the reach of the foundation’s interventions.
She called on individuals, businesses and other organisations to support initiatives that improve opportunities for disadvantaged children, stressing that collective action remained crucial to addressing the social challenges confronting young people.
The Principal of Government Secondary School, Ediba, Mr Ofem Obono-Obana, commended MercyReach Africa and its partners for the intervention, describing the scholarship as a significant relief for the beneficiaries and their families.
He said the assistance would enable the students to concentrate on their studies without the uncertainty associated with outstanding school expenses. He also urged other organisations and well-meaning individuals to support similar educational initiatives.
Under the scholarship programme, four students in JSS 3 received ?39,000 each, while four students in SS 2 received ?45,000 each. The remaining two students in SS 3 received ?95,000 each, with the payments covering their educational obligations for the academic session.
Obono-Obana added that the beneficiaries also received school bags, exercise books and other writing materials to support their learning.
A parent, Mrs Bright Moses, described the scholarship as a major relief to her family, explaining that concerns over school fees had placed considerable financial pressure on the household before she learnt that her child had been selected.
She expressed gratitude to MercyReach Africa and its partners, saying the intervention would help the beneficiary continue schooling with greater financial stability.
The scholarship programme underscores MercyReach Africa’s commitment to expanding access to education and providing practical support to children and families facing financial hardship.