The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Barr Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has revealed that he does not wait for budget approval to execute some of the projects he initiated in his senatorial zone. Instead, he uses his farm funds to finance them pending when the approval comes.
Scholarship Award Ceremony
Sen. Nwebonyi made this revelation at his residence in Abakaliki during a scholarship award ceremony for 500 students drawn from all local government areas in his zone. He added that the programme cost him over ₦100 million. He explained that he does not wait for budget approval before embarking on any project because those projects will make an impact on his people, so he normally uses his farm money to do it. He noted that he is the highest cultivator of yam and rice in the state.
“Yes, I normally use my farm money to execute some of my projects pending when the budget will be approved because most of these projects are very dear to my people. So I don’t wait for budget approval; rather, I use my farm money,” Nwebonyi stated.
Scholarship Programme Details
He noted that the scholarship programme is personally funded by him and his wife and is not connected to any political ambition. He stressed that no senator in Nigeria has matched his achievements in office within three years. According to Nwebonyi, the scholarship initiative began in 2015, years before he ventured into politics, and has continued to expand annually in line with his vision of making higher education accessible to indigent students across his constituency.
“Today, we have 500 students on scholarship, and we hope to increase the number. Whenever we discover that a particular community has few or no beneficiaries, we will identify indigent students from that area and bring them into the programme,” he said.
The senator revealed that the scheme produces more than 100 graduates annually, adding that education remains one of the most effective tools for lifting families out of poverty.
Source of Funding
Addressing concerns about the source of funding, Nwebonyi attributed his financial capacity to investments in agriculture, construction, and legal practice. “I am the biggest yam farmer in Ebonyi State. In ranch farming, I rank among the top. I also own a construction company, while my wife supervises many of the projects. The scholarship fund does not come from government allocations; it comes from me and my wife,” he stated.
Nwebonyi dismissed claims that the scholarship programme was politically motivated, insisting that his commitment to education predates his election to the Senate. “One of the students I picked up in secondary school is just months away from becoming a medical doctor. This programme is not because I am contesting any election. It started years ago and will continue even after my tenure in the Senate,” he said.
Infrastructure Projects
The lawmaker also highlighted several infrastructure projects he has undertaken across Ebonyi North Senatorial District, including roads, bridges, culverts, schools, and other rural development projects. He claimed that many of the projects were executed using his personal resources due to delays in the release of government funds.
“Whether government funding comes or not, anything I promise my people must be fulfilled. If there are delays, I will finance the projects with proceeds from my farms and businesses because I am in a hurry to deliver development to my people,” he declared.
Describing leadership as “a competition of good works,” Nwebonyi urged public office holders to focus on tangible projects that directly impact the lives of the people. He emphasized that his ultimate goal is to ensure that every family in Ebonyi North Senatorial District can boast of having at least one graduate, noting that education remains the foundation of economic prosperity and social transformation.
Challenge to Colleagues
In a bold challenge to his colleagues across the country, the senator maintained that his record of achievements remains unmatched. “No senator in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has matched the quality and volume of projects I have delivered within three years. If there is anyone who has done more, let them challenge me,” Nwebonyi asserted.
He reaffirmed his commitment to education, infrastructure development, youth empowerment, and agricultural support, pledging to continue serving as “an agent of change” for his people and future generations.
