The management of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has finalized measures to monitor beneficiaries of its foreign post graduate scholarship scheme henceforth.
To this end, it has concluded plans to incorporate a tracking system to monitor the progress of beneficiaries during and after they complete their studies.
The move is part of the measures the intervention agency in the oil and gas rich Niger Delta region has put in place to remodel its Foreign Post Graduate Scholarship scheme.
A statement issued by its Director, Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama and obtained by Maritime Bits quoted the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku saying this while addressing more than 200 scholars of the commission, studying in various universities in the United Kingdom at Coventry University recently.
Giving an insight into the remodeling of the scheme, Ogbuku stated that the tracking system will make the scholarship scheme, already the best in Nigeria, to be a cutting-edge innovation in skills and knowledge development in the Niger Delta region.
According to the NDDC boss, with the tracking system, the commission will build a database of the more than 2,900 scholars who have benefited from the scheme in the 14 years since its inception. This will enable it appraise the impact of the scheme in the development of the region’s human capacity pool and also provide insight to the commission on post-scholarship intervention.
His words: “The tracking system is part of the innovation being introduced to make the scheme relevant to the technological needs of the Niger Delta. The other innovation is limiting of the scheme to Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine (STEM) courses.”
The statement revealed that Ogbuku was part of NDDC monitoring team led by the Chairman of the Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie to evaluate the performance of the scholars. Other members of the team include the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; the Executive Director Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde and other directors of the commission
The NDDC boss was also quoted praising the scholars for being good ambassadors of the region, just as he noted that no scholar from the commission has ever been associated with any vice, a tribute to the stringent and merit-based selection process.
Ebie in his remarks enjoined the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity given to them to enhance their knowledge for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta region.
He noted that previous beneficiaries of the scholarship programme set what he described as “enviable standards” for the current set to emulate.
“It is remarkable that 14 of our scholars graduated with distinction in Coventry University earlier in the year. Their outstanding performance confirms the transparent process through which the beneficiaries were selected”, he added.
Iyaye on his part stated that the scholars had a duty to justify their inclusion in the programme, noting that the Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Scheme which was started in 2010 was meant to equip Niger Delta youths with advanced training and skills.
He stated that the NDDC was pursuing improved investments in the educational sector as part of plans to ensure that the youths were gainfully employed.
Also speaking, Abegunde challenged the students to return to Nigeria at the end of their studies so that the country, nay the Niger Delta region, can benefit from the huge investments made in their education.
The NDDC Director of Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. George Uzonwanne in his remarks disclosed that out of 56,000 applicants for the 2024/2025 programme, only 200 were selected through a transparent electronic examination process.
Uzonwanne noted that the NDDC sponsors an average of 200 scholars for postgraduate studies in institutions across the world every year. The scholars are expected to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to further the development of the Niger Delta region on their return.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Blessing Michael Menim described the scheme as a success story.
He expressed appreciation to NDDC for the prompt payment of fees and allowances which has saved them from the embarrassment faced by other Nigerian students who end up being sent away from school because of inability to pay their fees.
