Foreign scholarship: NDDC conducts tests for 5,000 applicants
By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt – The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it has conducted a Computer Based Test (CBT) to select 200 candidates out of 5,000 applicants who sat in the examination.
Dr George Uzonwanne, Director of Education, Health, and Social Services flagged-off the test at the Information and Communication Technology Centre, Rivers State University, in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
He said that over 20,000 graduates from the Niger Delta applied for NDDC’s foreign postgraduate scholarship programme, out of which only 5,000 applicants were selected for the test.
“The scholarship programme which started in 2010 has produced top level professionals with technical knowledge, capacity, and expertise to compete in oil and gas industry, among others.
“The programme equips our young people with relevant training and skills for effective participation in the local content programme of the Federal Government.
“It also enables them acquire specialisation in their fields of study to compete globally in various disciplines,” he said.
Uzonwanne said the commission has so far sponsored 2,708 scholars at both master’s and Ph.D. levels since the programme started in 2010.
“This year’s postgraduate scholarship which will be limited to the master’s degree category was initially focused on disciplines related to the activities of the oil and gas industries.
“However, going with the challenge of climate change and pollution, and the need to sustain our environment, we added other disciplines that we believe have a sustainable market.
“The Niger Delta has huge potentials for tourism, and, as such, we want to prepare the crop of people that will run these industries,” he noted.
The director said that development of any nation was calculated on the level of education, adding that NDDC had a duty to build human capacity of people of the Niger Delta.
Speaking, Mrs Idara Akpabio, Deputy Director of Education, NDDC, said the 5,000 applicants, drawn from the nine Niger Delta states, underwent several other rigorous tests before the CBT.
According to her, the scholarship was open to only graduates from the Niger Delta that graduated with First Class, Second Class Upper division and Second Class Lower division degrees.
“The scholarship programme covers disciplines in engineering, including biomedical, software, marine, mechanical, electrical/electronic, and robotic.
“Others are information technology, artificial intelligence, math/sciences, medical sciences, hospitality management, law, architecture, and environmental science.
On his part, the Project Consultant, Mr Godson Ideozu commended management of the commission for sustaining the scholarship that has changed the destinies of thousands of youths of the region.
Mr Firima Gbara, who sat the examination, thanked NDDC for giving youths of the region the opportunity to excel in life.
“The examination was very transparent, and I hope to go through to the next phase of the selection process.
“If am I selected for the scholarship, I promise that after my studies that I will return back and use what I have learnt to contribute to the development of Nigeria,” he assured. (NAN)
