In a significant move towards advancing education in the Niger Delta region, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has officially awarded 189 deserving candidates with letters of recognition for the 2023/2024 Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Programme.
The award ceremony, held in Port Harcourt, featured commendations from Mr. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, who lauded the resilience of the successful candidates. Ebie emphasized the vital role of education in transforming the fortunes of the Niger Delta region, acknowledging the scholarship program as a crucial element of the Commission’s human capital development initiative.
During the ceremony, NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, assured transparency in the selection process, highlighting the intense competition with over 25,000 online applicants. Ogbuku urged the scholars to represent Nigeria admirably in foreign universities and emphasized the Commission’s commitment to timely financial support for their academic pursuits.
Dr. George Uzonwanne, NDDC Director of Education, Health, and Social Services, outlined the transparent selection process involving an electronic examination at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. He expressed optimism that the scholarship program, initiated in 2010, would continue to produce outstanding performers, noting that the best candidate hailed from Ilaje in Ondo State.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Ogbuku urged them to avoid distractions and strive for academic excellence, emphasizing their role in positively impacting the Niger Delta region upon their return. Notably, Ogbuku announced that scholars achieving distinction in the Master’s program would receive sponsorship for a Ph.D. degree.
The best-performing scholarship student, Miss Omogbemi Olayemi, expressed gratitude to the NDDC for the fair and transparent selection process. She pledged, on behalf of the beneficiaries, to serve as exemplary ambassadors for the region.
Pius Ughakpoteni, Director of Corporate Affairs for the NDDC, released this information on December 14, 2023. This initiative signifies a positive step towards empowering the talented and intelligent youths of the Niger Delta region through quality education and skill development.
