Nigeria's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and former Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, has announced plans to institute the Dovis Scholarship Scheme for exceptional first-class students, saying the award would be tied to sustained academic excellence.

Ikpeazu made the disclosure during the celebration of his 62nd birthday and the Fifth Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Colloquium organised by the Pa Ismael Ikpeazu Library and DOVI Scientific Leadership Centre, with the theme: "Empowerment Beyond Handouts: Building Responsible, Skilled and Self-Reliant Young People for Sustainable Development."

According to him, the most effective form of empowerment is not the distribution of handouts but the deliberate building of human capacity through education, skills acquisition, mentorship and enterprise support.

He said beneficiaries of the proposed scholarship scheme would be required to maintain high academic standards, noting that the award would be suspended if a student's academic performance declined.

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Reflecting on his years in public service, Ikpeazu said sustainable empowerment must combine training, mentorship, practical experience and access to resources.

He cited programmes implemented during his administration in Abia State, particularly in agriculture, where poultry clusters were established to train young people.

The ambassador also used the occasion to express gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing him Nigeria's Ambassador to Spain and commended the President's economic reforms, which he said have placed the country on a positive economic trajectory.

He equally thanked his family, friends and political associates for their support throughout his academic, professional and political journey.

The highlight of the event was a keynote lecture delivered virtually by Professor John Uzoma Ihendinihu, Professor of Accounting and Taxation at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

Earlier in his opening remarks, former spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and moderator of the event, Kimiebi Ebienfa, described Ikpeazu as a scholar, statesman, diplomat and accomplished public servant whose career has been defined by scholarship, humility and service.