The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has taken 200 scholars to the Coventry University, United Kingdom (UK) for postgraduate studies.
The NDDC announced this in a statement it shared on its official X account on Sunday evening.
“Out of 56,000 applicants for the 2024/2025 program, only 200 were selected through a transparent electronic examination process,” the commission said.
NDDC Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku spoke as part of the commission’s monitoring and evaluation team for the foreign postgraduate scholarship scheme at the Coventry University, UK.
“The foreign postgraduate scholarship scheme is undergoing a remodeling to incorporate a tracking system that will monitor scholars’ progress after graduation,” Ogbuku said.
“This initiative aims to create a comprehensive database of over 2,900 students from the past 14 years.
“This will enable an assessment of the scholarship’s impact on human capacity development in the Niger Delta region.
“The scheme will now prioritize STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) courses to align with the technological needs of the Niger Delta.”
NDDC Director of Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. George Uzonwanne also spoke during the monitoring and evaluation team’s visit to the UK.
“The NDDC sponsors an average of 200 students each year for postgraduate studies at institutions worldwide,” Uzonwanne said in his address.
“These students are expected to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to contribute to the development of the Niger Delta region upon their return.”
The NDDC Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye was on hand to address participants at the event in the UK.
“I fully support the new initiatives introduced by Dr. Ogbuku. I emphasize the importance of monitoring and evaluation in ensuring the effectiveness of the foreign postgraduate scholarship scheme and the commitment of the NDDC to fostering a skilled workforce in the Niger Delta through targeted educational programs,” Iyaye said.
The NDDC Chairman, Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie who led the commission’s entourage to the UK also gave a speech.
“Maximizing the opportunities provided by the foreign postgraduate scholarship scheme is crucial,” Ebie stated.
“I encourage beneficiaries to enhance their knowledge for the betterment of the Niger Delta region.
“I commend previous scholarship recipients for setting high standards and urge current scholars to strive for excellence by emulating their success.
“Remarkably, 11 of our students graduated with distinction from Coventry University earlier this year.
“Their outstanding performance underscores the transparent selection process for these beneficiaries.”
