In a striking gesture of philanthropy and grassroots empowerment, the Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh (Prince of Mburubu) has disbursed non-refundable grants totalling N50 million to the people of his hometown, Mburubu, in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. The wide-reaching intervention aims to boost farming activities, uplift local businesses, and complement Governor Peter Mbah’s administration’s mission to eradicate poverty from every home in the state.
The funds, drawn from Dr. Ezeh’s personal resources, were distributed directly to hundreds of beneficiaries, with individuals receiving between N200,000 and N500,000, while each of the community’s villages received N1 million. The youth of Mburubu were collectively given a special grant of N3 million to encourage enterprise and innovation.
Speaking during the distribution ceremony, Dr. Ezeh said his initiative was not a political gesture but a deliberate contribution to support Governor Mbah’s economic vision.
“This is personal money, but I am driven by a shared mission with His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, to ensure that poverty is eradicated from every household in our dear state,” Dr. Ezeh stated. “We must ask ourselves every day: how are we supporting the government to bring prosperity to our people?”
He appealed to the beneficiaries to use the resources judiciously so that “more people can benefit in the next round.” He also called on affluent sons and daughters of Enugu State to emulate the gesture, urging them to give back to their roots.
To ensure equitable distribution, the funds were handed out via direct cheques during a well-attended community ceremony. Among the notable individual beneficiaries were artisans, small-scale farmers, traders, and traditional community leaders.
A long list of recipients received N200,000 each, including Mrs. Blessing Aniobi, Peter Chukwu, Cletus Egbo, Mercy Edeh, Chief Denis Aniobi, and Ogbonna Chukwu, among others. Over 50 names appeared in this category.
Recipients of N300,000 included High Chief Cornelius Aniobi, Helen Onyeabor, Emmanuel Abraham Aniobi, and Ozo John Nwosu, alongside several women and youth. More than 40 people received this mid-tier funding.
At the highest level, individuals like Jeff Okuta, Joseph Onu, and Chief Geodge Enyim were each granted N500,000 to support larger-scale business or farming projects.
In a significant push to empower communal structures, each of the following villages received N1 million: Umudara, Uhuegbe, Uhuagu, Obinagu, Umunafor, Amanator, Amachi, and both the men and women of the Umuogbuewu family. The Mburubu youth, a vital demographic for sustainable development, were awarded N3 million to implement group-led economic initiatives.
“This money is not for lavish spending. It is for farming, for trade, for enterprise. Let it be seed capital that yields harvests of prosperity,” Dr. Ezeh advised.
Community members welcomed the support with visible gratitude, describing the grants as “timely and transformative.” Chief Emmanuel Edeh, a recipient, praised Dr. Ezeh’s commitment to grassroots development: “He is not just talking about change—he is making it happen.”
Another beneficiary, Cecilia Aniobi, who received N300,000, said, “This is the first time many of
us are getting direct support without political strings. It will help me expand my cassava farm.”
Dr. Ezeh’s gesture comes at a time when food security and small business growth are central to Governor Mbah’s strategic development plan for Enugu State. By aligning his personal philanthropy with public policy, Dr. Ezeh has positioned himself as a leading example of public-private synergy in community development.
He urged Mburubu residents to continue supporting the Governor’s programmes: “The transformation of Enugu State requires unity of purpose. Let us walk hand in hand with the government.”
Dr. Ezeh concluded by assuring the community that more interventions will come if the funds are used wisely: “This is only the beginning. Let this yield harvests of success that will multiply opportunities for all.”
Lot of beneficiaries
- Ogbonna Chukwu – 200,000
- Chief Ralph Imeka – 200,000
- Chief Denis Aniobi – 200,000
- Okonkwo Ogbonna – 200,000
- Blessing Aniobi – 200,000
- Fredrick Aniobi – 200,000
- Victoria Chukwu – 200,000
- Chimezie Nwogho – 200,000
- Blessing Okafor – 200,000
- Maria Chidebe – 200,000
- Cletus Egbo – 200,000
- Florence Chukwu – 200,000
- Nwachukwu Dorathy – 200,000
- Mercy Edeh – 200,000
- Augustine Edeh – 200,000
- Ekene Chukwu – 200,000
- Elias Okeke – 200,000
- Augustine Nwachukwu – 200,000
- Amaechi Romanus – 200,000
- Nwanzi Joseph – 200,000
- Roseline Chukwu – 200,000
- Baby Paul – 200,000
- Nneka Nwokike – 200,000
- Linus Nwankwo – 200,000
- Alfred Nwigwe – 200,000
- Charles Aniobi – 200,000
- Onovo Jonas – 200,000
- Chukwu Ambrose – 200,000
- Peter Chukwu (sir pee) – 200,000
- Anthony Chibuikem Mbah – 200,000
- Joy Oluchi Nwankwo – 200,000
- Chukwu Ndubuisi – 200,000
- Chima Omah – 200,000
- Peter Okeke – 200,000
- Gabriel Onovo – 200,000
- Esther Enyim – 200,000
- Emmanuel Njoku – 200,000
- Florence Nwaju – 200,000
- Onyema Eze – 200,000
- Edwin Udeh – 200,000
- Lawrence Edeh Aniobi – 200,000
- Josephine Nwafor – 200,000
- Aniebo Chukwu – 200,000
- Benedict Onu – 200,000
- Ogbonna Aniobi – 200,000
- Susanna Aniobi – 200,000
- Edwin Aniobi – 200,000
- Felicia Chukwu – 200,000
- John Egbo – 200,000
- Elizabeth Nwogbo – 200,000
- Onu Elizabeth – 200,000
- Helen Aniobi 2- 00,000
- Paul Njoku – 200,000
- Cecilia Aniobi U – 200,000
- Mary Nwafor – 200,000
- Onyemaechi John – 300,000
- Helen Onyeabor – 300,000
- Christopher Edeonu D.P.G 300,000
- Chief Everist Edeani 300,000
- High Chief Cornelius Aniobi – 300,000
- Patrick Chukwuorji – 300,000
- Cecilia Edu Amobi – 300,000
- Emmanuel Abraham Aniobi – 300,000
- Eze Cecilia – 300,000
- Chukwu Helen Eze – 300,000
- Onyeabor Ekwueme – 300,000
- Okoro Ogonna – 300,000
- Nwigwe Tochukwu – 300,000
- Chukwu Mercy – 300,000
- Onyeabor Kelvin – 300,000
- Okorie Stephen – 300,000
- Onyeabor Sunday – 300,000
- Owe Ikechukwu – 300,000
- Godwin Nworie – 300,000
- Onuvo Nwadibie – 300,000
- Peter Onu – 300,000
- Chief Okonkwo Agwu – 300,000
- Virgina Okorie Eze – 300,000
- Lolo Ogechukwu Ede – 300,000
- Lady B – 300,000
- Ozo John Nwosu – 300,000
- Cecilia Okafor – 300,000
- Ezinne Precious Nwodo – 300,000
- Uche Chukwu – 300,000
- Ikechukwu Indubisi -n300,000
- Ikechukwu Anyim – 300,000
- Edwin Uden – 300,000
- Roselin Okeke – 300,000
- Ambros Amiobi – 300,000
- Okudiri Dominic Ogbu – 300,000
- Chief Kingsley Eze – 300,000
- Alhaji Raymond Nwachukwu – 300,000
- Jeff Okuta – 500,000
- Linus Igbuolu – 500,000
- Simon Aniobi – 500,000
- Joseph Onu – 500,000
- Emma Ede – 500,000
- Joseph Nwonkwo – 500,000
- Okechukwu Chukwudike – 500,000
- King David – 500,000
- Okeke Michael – 500,000
- Chief Geodge Enyim – 500,000
- High Chief Sunday Chinwuba – 500,000
- Emmanuel Ezeh – 500,000
- Abata Anari – 500,000
- Umudara Village 1,000,000
- Uhuegbe Village –1,000,000
- Uhuagu Village – 1,000,000
- Obinagu Village 1,000,000
- Umunafor Village – 1,000,000
- Amanator Village – 1,000,000
- Amachi Village – 1,000,000
- Umuogbuewu Family Men – 1,000,000
- Umuogbuewu Family Women – 1,000,000
- Mburubu Youths – 3,000,000