TheCable

Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, deputy chief whip of the house of representatives, says politics is “not a bad career”.

Onyejeocha said this on Tuesday when she gave scholarships to secondary schools in her constituency to mark her birthday.

The beneficiaries, drawn from Wesley International College, Parousia Secondary School, Prince Nnamdi Ekebuisi Secondary School, Mbala Secondary School, Marta Christi Academy, and Ovim Girls Secondary, would be sponsored up to university level.

“I am standing here today as an example. I grew up in a very humble background, learning the ropes from my parents,” she said.

“Politics is not a bad career as people make you believe. If you say it is bad, then you have to be actively involved as good citizens to make it attractive.

“If you leave it in the hands of bad people, who then will build the better society you want?”

Onyejeocha said she would be advocating for child rights and the need to advance education, especially for her constituents, hence the reason for the scholarships.

“The decision is based on my conviction that human capital development has a long-term impact on the productivity and development of every society,” she said.

“We are taking it seriously as part of an effort to address the rising statistics of out-of-school children in the country.”