The NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, speaking during the NDDC Foreign Post Graduate Scholarship computer-based test at the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. On his left is the NDDC Director of Education, Health and Social Services, Dr George Uzonwanne, followed by the Director of Education, Dr (Mrs) Awele Chukwudifu.
Applicants from the nine Niger Delta States numbering 6,000 have participated in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for its Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship programme.
Speaking at the Information and Communication Technology Centre of the Rivers State University, Port-Harcourt, where the tests were conducted, Alabo Boma Iyaye, the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, said that the Commission was intentional about its human capacity development programmes.
Stated he: “The successful applicants for the Computer-Based Test are drawn from all nine Niger Delta States, and there are several test sessions spread over three days. We had some challenges during the shortlisting process due to some applicants’ inability to submit the relevant information and documents”.
The Executive Director observed that the financial burden of the foreign scholarship was huge. However, he assured the Commission would sustain the programme and introduce new components by including scholarships in local universities.
Iyaye announced that the NDDC would introduce scholarships for undergraduate students in Nigerian universities.
Stated he: “This will enable us to accommodate more persons in the scholarship programme”.
Dr. George Uzonwanne, NDDC Director of Education, Health and Social Services, noted that the scholarship programme, started in 2010, was designed to produce top-level professionals with technical knowledge, capacity, and expertise to compete in the oil and gas industry and other sectors.
Offered he: “The Scholarship Programme will 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 specialisation in their fields of study to compete globally in various disciplines.
Uzonwanne expressed optimism that the transparent process of selecting beneficiaries for the foreign scholarship scheme would continue to produce first-class performers.
He stated that the scholarship programme covered science disciplines, including engineering, agricultural science, environmental science, geosciences, information technology, and management sciences. Others are law and architecture.
