One Thousand five hundred students across Delta North senatorial district are expressing gratitude and renewed hope following Senator Ned Nwoko’s sponsorship of their 2026 UTME registration fees, describing the programme as a critical lifeline that has lifted a major financial burden from their families.
The beneficiaries, numbering 1,500 and spread across the nine local government areas of the district, say the free registration support has not only removed cost barriers but also strengthened their determination to pursue university admission with confidence.
The examination is conducted nationwide by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, and registration fees are often a challenge for low- and middle-income households, especially where multiple children are preparing for tertiary entrance exams at the same time.
A Big Relief for Our Families — Students Speak
Students interviewed from different parts of Delta North consistently described the sponsorship as timely and impactful.
Ike Esther from Ika North East said the support came at a crucial moment for her household. According to her, her parents had been weighing several urgent financial needs alongside her exam registration.
“This has taken a heavy load off my parents. Now I can focus fully on studying instead of worrying about whether I would even be able to register,” she said.
Moses Peters and Chukwuyem Dorcas, both from Ika South, shared similar sentiments, noting that the intervention changed their outlook on the admission process.
They said the gesture reassured them that their educational ambitions are recognized and supported at the constituency level.
Ossai Success from Ukwuani described the programme as a motivation boost. “When support like this comes, it makes you feel responsible to give your best.
“Someone believes in your future, so you have to work hard to justify it,” she said.
Favour Nwoko from Aniocha North added that beyond the financial help, the initiative sends a strong message about the value placed on youth education in the district.
Equal Reach Across Delta North Communities
Beneficiaries were selected across Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Ika North East, Ika South, Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, and Ukwuani, ensuring that students from both urban and rural communities gained access to the programme.
Several students noted that candidates in riverine and interior communities often face added obstacles, including transport and information gaps, and said the coordinated registration exercise helped close that gap.
Participants reported that the registration process in their areas was orderly and well-coordinated, allowing students to complete their applications without stress or extra unofficial charges.
More Than a Fee Payment — A Confidence Builder
Many of the beneficiaries stressed that the programme’s biggest impact goes beyond the payment itself. They described it as an emotional and psychological boost at a defining stage of their academic journey.
Some said they had considered postponing their UTME attempt due to financial uncertainty. With the fees covered, they are now proceeding with their original timelines for admission into universities and polytechnics.
Parents and guardians, according to the students, have also reacted with relief and appreciation, seeing the intervention as direct support for household educational advancement.
Renewed Focus on Performance
With registration secured, beneficiaries say their attention has shifted fully to preparation. Study groups and peer-reading circles are already forming in some communities among supported candidates, with students encouraging one another to make strong scores.
“We have been given an opportunity,” one beneficiary said. “The best way to show appreciation is to pass well and gain admission.”
Across Delta North, the mood among the sponsored candidates is largely one of gratitude mixed with determination, a sense that a door has been opened, and it is now up to them to walk through it with discipline and hard work.
Prior to this good gesture of the Senator, he had earlier granted scholarship to 90 students of Delta North origin to study courses of their choice of the Sports University of Nigeria in Idumuje Ugboko.
