Barr. Paul Edeh donates weekly law reports to Benue versity, vows to give scholarship to best graduating students

As part of efforts to give back to his alma mater, the Benue State University, Makurdi, renowned Philanthropist and President of Naija Ratels Football Club, Barrister Paul Edeh, has donated copies of Nigerian weekly law reports to further strengthen and boost the productivity of the Law department.

Barrister Edeh who graduated from the same institution, Faculty of Law, 17 years ago, recently visited the school to pay a courtesy visit to the new Dean of the Faculty, Professor U.D Ikoni, only to be informed that the last set of Nigerian Weekly law reports they have in the Faculty was that of 2015, which had a deficit of law reports from 2016 to date.

Irked by the reports, the legal luminary, decided to order for the Nigerian Weekly law reports from 2016 to date, which he donated to the law faculty on Friday evening, including donating indexes for the period.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Ambassador also pledged to give Law school scholarship to the best graduating students of the faculty for the next five years, which will be named after his father, Captain Samuel Ankwa.

Also, Edeh released the sum of N150,000 to help renovate some fallen ceilings of the library, which was caving in.

Receiving the Law reports, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Tor Joe Iorapu, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Edward Agbo Omudu, noted that the School is proud of Paul Edeh’s achievements and grateful for his show of commitment, passion and love to the University he graduated from.

“We are proud of what Barrister Paul Edeh has been able to achieve since he graduated from this school. It’s so disappointing that the Vice-Chancellor couldn’t make it here today, because he had to travel to Jos for an assignment.

‘You are a shining example and I urge other students who graduated from this school to give back, just as Barrister Paul Edeh has just done. We say a very big thank you on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Management, staff and students of the Benue State University,” he said.

In his remarks, Barrister Edeh, who was full of fulfilment, stated that it was indeed a privilege to give back to the school that made him.

He further stressed that the Institution would have been greater if past students of the institution give back to the school.

“All my life has been about giving and reaching out to people. It is a great honour for me to be here today. I want to specifically thank everyone that has contributed in making me who I am today especially my lecturers who are here present today to witness this occasion.

“I want to enjoin my fellow alumni to give back to the school, no matter how little. It is necessary for all of us to come together towards developing of our great alma mater.

“Apart from the donations of the Nigerian Law Reports from 2016 to date, I want to use this opportunity to announce scholarship for the best graduating students of the law Faculty for the next five years, which will be named after my late Father, Captain Samuel Ankwa. To this end, I will be creating a Trust where the full payment will be paid into, with the Vice-Chancellor and Dean as co-signatories,” he said.

The dean, Faculty of Law of the school, Professor U.D Ikoni, in his speech, was full of praises for Barrister Edeh for the history-making event, saying the gesture was a welcome development which should encourage other alumni to be a part of the development of the faculty.

According to him, “This is a history making event and am happy it is happening at a time I assumed leadership as Dean of Faculty of Law.

“This is the first time we are receiving this kind of donations in recent times, especially from our own student we produced. What gladdens my heart was his pledge to reach out to his colleagues, who are in the country and abroad to see reasons why they should contribute to the development of the faculty. We are proud of him and pray God Almighty will see him through always.

“This gesture will certainly impact positively on the faculty especially that the Council of Legal Education is expected to be in BSU soon for accreditation of the faculty.”

Barr. Edeh is the President of Nigeria Women Football League outfit Naija Ratels FC.