Founder of the Kave Economic Empowerment Foundation (KEEF), Dr Godwin Kave, has awarded ₦50,000 each to over 100 indigent students drawn from the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State, in a scholarship initiative aimed at easing financial barriers to tertiary education and strengthening youth development across the state.
The scholarship programme, held at Gboko Polytechnic in Gboko LGA, formed a key part of activities lined up to mark Kave’s 50th birthday, which he deliberately chose to commemorate through humanitarian interventions rather than ceremonial celebrations. The disbursement, which totalled ₦5 million, targeted students in various tertiary institutions who demonstrated financial need and academic commitment.
Kave, a United Nations Peace Ambassador, said the intervention was rooted in his personal experience of hardship while pursuing education, noting that access to learning opportunities remains a major challenge for many young Nigerians from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“My motivation for this initiative is that I was once in your shoes and I have come from a humble background, so I know how difficult it is to acquire education from a poor background,” he said, addressing beneficiaries at the event.
He explained that while he had supported individuals quietly over the years, his golden jubilee provided an opportunity to institutionalise such efforts under KEEF, thereby ensuring a more structured and transparent approach to impact-driven interventions.
According to him, the week-long activities marking his birthday commenced with a medical outreach in Buruku, followed by a youth skill acquisition programme in Makurdi, before culminating in the scholarship awards in Gboko. He stressed that the initiatives were not designed for public display but to create tangible value in people’s lives.
“It’s not for show-off, and I’m not a rich man. But I find myself in people’s shoes and I want to touch their lives,” Kave added.
The Ter Gboko, HRH Gabriel Ishosum, represented by the District Head of Gboko South, HRH Akpam Abeke, commended the foundation’s approach, noting that it reflects a shift from celebratory excess to purposeful giving.
He said the scholarship scheme offers renewed hope to students across the state and urged beneficiaries to apply the funds judiciously toward their academic pursuits. He further encouraged them to emulate Kave’s example by contributing to societal development when they are in positions to do so.
In his remarks, he also offered prayers for Kave, asking for continued strength and resources to expand his philanthropic reach.
Additional goodwill messages came from stakeholders across academia and the private sector, who described the initiative as both timely and impactful.
Prof. Benjamin Odey Omang of the Department of Geology, University of Calabar, said the gesture reinforces the idea that generosity is driven more by goodwill than by wealth.
“It’s not rich people that give, it’s good people that give. So, Kave is a good man,” he said.
Similarly, Dr Henry Effiom, Chief Executive Officer of Henroy Enterprise, Calabar, called for sustained support for initiatives that directly improve livelihoods, urging beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity to advance their education.
Also speaking, Dr Amon Terpase Emmanuel, Head of Station at the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Yandev outstation, encouraged recipients to make the most of the financial support.
“Make that token you are benefitting today speak. Let the little beginning multiply in thousand folds and let his prayers be answered,” he said.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the KEEF Scholarship and Colloquium, Dr Elijah Ikpanor, who also serves as Director of Culture for Advancement and Linkages at Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM), provided insights into the selection process.
He stated that the process was transparent, merit-based, and free from interference, noting that applications were submitted online following a public call advertised across multiple platforms. This, he explained, was designed to eliminate bias and ensure fairness.
“I did not have any interference from our founder or any committee member. They gave me the opportunity to assess you independently,” Ikpanor said.
He added that eligibility criteria required applicants to be indigent Benue indigenes with clear evidence of financial need, stressing that the selected beneficiaries represent the pioneer set of the programme and are expected to serve as ambassadors of the initiative.
Ikpanor also disclosed that shortlisted candidates who were unable to attend the ceremony would receive their funds via bank transfers, ensuring inclusivity and accountability in the disbursement process.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke at the event expressed appreciation for the intervention, describing it as both timely and credible.
Among them were Nenger Mbanengen, a 300-level English student at the University of Mkar, and Iorkyaa Grace, a 400-level Medical Laboratory Science student at MOAUM, who both acknowledged the financial relief provided by the scholarship.
Iorkyaa noted that previous attempts to secure scholarships had been unsuccessful, describing some opportunities as unreliable.
She commended Kave for what she described as a genuine and transparent intervention, adding that the support would significantly ease her academic expenses.
Other beneficiaries, including Awua Bemdoo of the Department of Data Science and Technology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and Benjamin Saaondo of the Department of Medicine, MOAUM, also pledged to utilise the funds responsibly and focus on academic excellence.
Beyond the scholarship, Kave revealed plans to launch a biography initially proposed three years ago by the late national President of the Tiv Youth Organisation, Andy Anza. He said the project is now being continued by his former classmate, Mike Ortserga, with the book launch scheduled to take place at the College of Health Sciences, MOAUM.
In his closing remarks, the Media Adviser to the Ter Gboko, Dr Fidelis Ihundu, described Kave as a courageous and compassionate individual whose actions reflect a deep commitment to societal progress.
Nigeria Startup News reports that the KEEF initiative adds to a growing trend of private-sector and individual-led interventions targeting education and youth empowerment in Nigeria, particularly at a time when economic pressures continue to limit access to higher education for many families.
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