Peter & Theresa Nwokocha Foundation

Making a difference in Avutu

PURPOSE

The Peter and Theresa Nwokocha Scholarship Fund was established in 2015. The mission of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to indigenes of Avutu Obowo, Nigeria enrolled for undergraduate study in colleges and universities. The Scholarship has two principal categories: a) students pursuing degrees in Medicine, Law and Engineering; and b) students pursuing degree in all other fields. Receipt of scholarship in a given year does not guarantee scholarship award in the following year. Each student has to apply each year and demonstrate eligibility.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

This is based on academic performance, leadership potential, and participation in community programs to help other students and the needy. Scholarships are awarded and/ or renewed annually provided funds are available. In addition, the scholarship may be renewed provided the award recipient meets the conditions outlined below in Scholarship Renewal.

Through education only can we sustain growth and development as both individuals and a community. That is why we award scholarships to students to help them pursue their calling. For details on the Scholarship Application process and copy of the Scholarship Application form, click here Follow this link to complete and submit your scholarship application online.

10th Year anniversary

January 2024 marked a 10 year anniversary of the Nwokocha Foundation. The event was celebrated by the Avutu community. It marked the culmination of a dream of creating sustainable encouragement of Avutu indigenes over a decade. When the foundation was conceived at a Sunday December 28, 2014 meeting between the late Fr. Gerald Onuoha, Honorable Gabriel Emejamara and Chief Paschal Nwokocha. The immediate motivation was to honor the memories of Ichie Peter Nwokocha, whose memorial was being celebrated that day. The long term goal, however, was to nurture the Avutu youth, and encourage altruistic benevolence among Avutu indigenes. Chief Nwokocha wanted to run this project over a ten year period and hope that it will inspire others to do the same.

By all indications, the celebrations on January 1, 2024 showed that the goals of this project has been met, and to some extent exceeded. The performers, speakers and award recipients demonstrated the live-changing difference that the Nwokocha Foundation has had on the community. It is our hope that the vision of Making a Difference in Avutu will continue into the future.

Entrepreneur Assistance Program

In 2022, the Foundation expanded its mission to include economic assistance programs to Avutu Entrepreneurs. See also news paper clip above. For the first year, the interest fee loan went to 45 local businesses, totaling more than N15M naira. The goal is to recycle this loan to other entrepreneurs as the current beneficiaries pay back.

List of Nwokocha Foundation Entrepreneurs.
Click Here

The Peter and Theresa Nwokocha Scholarship Event

January 1, 2020 was another monumental day in Avutu, Obowo as the Nwokocha Foundation brought joy and relief on the faces of 60 University students and their parents. As has been the case since 2016, hundreds of people attended as the foundation had its annual scholarship award ceremonies to benefit eligible sons and daughter of Avutu, Obowo at the Aguneke Hall.

The ceremony featured a keynote speaker, Dr. Cosmas Ihezie, an orthopedic surgeon at Federal Medical Center Owerri and an indigene of Obowo. Dr. Ihezie exhorted the students reach high in their academic pursuits and he used his academic and professional journey as an example to motivate the students.

The newest member of the Nwokocha Board, Mr. Leonard Ihedioha, was formally inducted.

The ceremony also witnessed the recognition of some Nwokocha scholars who participated as tutors and coaches in the 2019 extra mural program. They received cash awards for their efforts. Also, the best overall students from the extramural program, Theophilus Chiamaka and Chidiebere Uzondu, were also recognized. Though not solicited, Dr. Ihezie and Mr. Ihedioha made various cash donations to different categories of students to encourage them the more.

The highlight of the occasion was the disbursement of checks to the scholarship awardees by Chief Paschal Nwokocha, the Founder and proprietor of the foundation. The awardees are from all corners of Avutu, Obowo: Umuifem: 2; Umuodimma: 3; Dikenta: 7; Umuada: 8; Umuoshi: 8; Amaeke: 11; Umuagagba: 21.

The chairman of the Board, Honorable Gabriel Emejeamara, congratulated the recipients and urged them to put the funds received to good use.

Leadership

Paschal Nwokocha, Trustee/Founder
Ugo Eko Nwokocha, Trustee/Foundress
Chisom Nwokocha
Emenike Nwokocha

Board of Directors

Honorable Gabriel Emejeamara, Chairman
Benjamin Onwuvuche, Secretary
Fidelis Irokanjo, Member
Moses Iweajunwa, Member
Leonard Ihedioha, Member
Francis Onukwume, Executive Assistant to the Board

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

The Peter and Theresa Nwokocha Scholarship fund awards scholarships on the basis of a comprehensive process. Areas that are reviewed by the committee include, but are not limited to the following: Academic Accomplishments, Community Service, References, Personal Essay and Financial Need. The Scholarship funds issues check to qualifying students on January 1, of the scholarship year. Scholarships awarded are based upon the availability of funds and additional qualifying criteria.

Applicants must have an indigene of Avutu Obowo
Applicants must be accepted as a full time student at a college, university
Applicants for scholarship renewal must maintain GPA of 3.0.
Applicants must complete and submit a Scholarship Application timely .
Scholarship renewal recipients will receive their check ONLY after their grades from the previous academic year have been received.
Scholarship recipient and at least one parent must be physically present on January 1 to receive the award check.