NDDC Resumes Scholarship Programme, Restates importance Of Sustainable Manpower Development
The Oasis Reporters
September 15, 2022
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, says it has reviewed its foreign post-graduate scholarship programme, to include Masters Degree courses in Nigerian universities as part of its efforts to boost manpower development for the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.
The NDDC Interim Administrator, Dr Efiong Akwa, announced this in a publication entitled:’2023 NDDC Foreign/Local Masters Degree Post-Graduate Scholarship.”
Akwa stated: “The NDDC, is once again embarking on its Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Programme to equip our young people with relevant training and skills for effective participation in the local content programme of the Federal Government, as well as enable them to acquire specialization in their fields of study and thus compete globally in various disciplines.”
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer explained that the scheme covered disciplines in engineering, including Software/Aeronautic Space/Aeronautic Engineering, Medical Sciences/Medicine and Surgery, Computer Science Technology, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Hospitality Management, Law, Architecture, among others.
It was gathered that Umana gave the directive during a two-day retreat for senior staff of the NDDC and the Niger Delta Ministry, which ended in Abuja at the weekend.An official of the ministry, who spoke in confidence, said Umana vehemently kicked against suggestions to scrap the scheme and insisted that it would be sustained, expanded and reviewed to eliminate all forms of corruption in the system.
The source said Umana wanted a scholarship scheme that would be home driven with a special focus on Nigerian universities.
He said that it became necessary to review the scheme and include local universities, instead of the usual practice of sending beneficiaries abroad to study courses offered in Nigerian universities.
He advised prospective and qualified candidates to visit the NDDC website, noting that the scholars who must come from the Niger Delta region, should possess five Credits at not more than two sittings, and students were expected to have First Class Degree or Second-Class Upper Division to benefit from the Scholarship.
Akwa stressed that the online application was free and that shortlisted candidates would undergo a Computer Based Test (CBT) to be conducted in each State of the Niger Delta by Consultants to test their I.Q proficiency in English, Mathematics and General Paper.
He gave a deadline of eight weeks for the submission of application for the Foreign and local scholarship scheme, adding that the names of all shortlisted applicants will be posted on NDDC website.
Akwa noted that preference would be given to candidates from Oil Producing Host/Communities/Local Government Areas as long as the candidates met the approved cut off mark, assuring that the Commission would ensure a fair spread of courses amongst beneficiaries within each State.
The NDDC boss said that the reviewed scholarship programme was approved by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Umana Okon Umana, who, he said, was interested in giving more people the opportunity to undertake their Masters programme in foreign and Nigerian universities.
He observed that the scholarship programme, which started in 2010, was designed to produce top level professionals with technical manpower, capacity and expertise to compete in oil and gas industry and in other sectors.
It was gathered that Umana gave the directive during a two-day retreat for senior staff of the NDDC and the Niger Delta Ministry, which ended in Abuja at the weekend.An official of the ministry, who spoke in confidence, said Umana vehemently kicked against suggestions to scrap the scheme and insisted that it would be sustained, expanded and reviewed to eliminate all forms of corruption in the system “The idea is to retain the scheme and make it home-based instead of the usual practice of sending beneficiaries abroad to study courses offered in Nigerian universities.
The NDDC scholarship programme, which started in 2010, was designed to produce top level professionals with technical manpower, capacity and expertise to compete in oil and gas industry and in other sectors.
