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400 Students Get SPDC N60m Scholarship
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited says it has awarded scholarships to the best and outstanding 400 university students, totalling N60million to enable them excel in their different fields of academic endeavours.
Speaking at the presentation of the awards for the 2015/2016 academic session at the Port Harcourt Literary Society Library, the SPDC General Manager, External Relations, Mr Igo Weli said: “SPDC does not segregate, the scholarship encompasses all fields of endeavours provided you are from the Niger Delta region and very brilliant.”
The Tide correspondent gathered that each student is given N150, 000 per annum, while the scholarship runs between four to six years depending on the course of study.
Weli stated that the SPDC JV university scholarship programme started since 1953 as one of its earliest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSO) initiatives, seven years before Nigeria gained her independence, adding that the initiative has continued to contribute to Nigeria’s human capital development.
The general manager said that SPDC was extremely proud of the success the initiative had recorded, having developed critical manpower for the development of modern Nigeria.
“From those early steps in 1953, what is now known as the NNPC/SPDC JV Scholarship programme has afforded many Nigerians the opportunity to acquire higher education, with many going on to become leaders in their chosen professions,” Weli said.
He stressed that this year’s award was very significant as it shows SPDC’s commitment to contribute to Nigeria’s human capital development despite the low oil price in the global market and the economic challenges in the country which have greatly impacted the funding of oil and gas operations.
Weli added that the company has launched the ‘Scholarship Meet Shell Programme,’ in which the beneficiaries meet and interact with Shell staff on their different chosen professions.
“Today, the SPDC JV runs four scholarship schemes as follows: The Secondary School, which supports over 1,000 students in SPDC’s operational areas in the Niger Delta annually, the Cradle-to-Career, which is an all-inclusive scholarship that provides opportunities and strong foundation for brilliant pupils in public primary schools to attend reputable secondary schools in Nigeria. The scholarship covers tuition and boarding awarded to 60 gifted young people from the Niger Delta annually,” he said.
He added that “the SPDC University Scholarship Scheme comprises two categories namely: the National Merit Award which is open to all Nigerians and the Operational Areas Award which is for undergraduates from our areas of operations in Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers States, and finally the Overseas Postgraduate scholarship programme which is awarded to 10 indigenes from Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Imo States annually for a Master’s programme in Oil and Gas-related disciplines at three top United Kingdom universities.”
Weli further stated that apart from helping to develop critical manpower, SPDC interventions in the educational sector over the years cover the building of science blocks, donation of science equipment, and establishment of the UNESCO ‘Education for All (EFA)’ goals, thereby ultimately contributing significantly to attaining the Millennium Development Goals on education in the Niger Delta and Nigeria.
Also speaking, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Hon Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, represented by the Head Unit, Ministry of Education, Mrs Nwamaka Joseph, urged the students to take the opportunity given them by SPDC seriously, and expressed the Rivers State Government’s gratitude to the tremendous contribution SPDC has made in ensuring education for all in the state.
In her remarks, a motivational speaker, Mrs Osasere Esekhaigbe enjoined the beneficiaries to take their academic pursuit seriously, adding that there was need for them to distinguish themselves by having good defendable grades in their courses of study.
Esekhaigbe charged the students not to settle for the SPDC required 2.5 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), but thrive to score 4.5-5.0 CGPA as that was the only way they can compete favourably in the job markets.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, a student of the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, from Agbere Agbama Community in Bayelsa State, Miss Tonaria Irene Ebilade said she believed the reason why she was given the scholarship was God’s divine favour, even as she said that her academic performance in the West African School Certificate (WAEC), Post UTME and her high CGPA of 3.9 played significant roles in her success story.
Ebilade urged other students and youth to take their academic pursuit seriously, adding that a time would come when they least expected and success would shine in their way.
Also speaking, another beneficiary, John Kingsley said God’s grace, favour and SPDC’s love for academic excellence propelled him to hedge on, and thanked God for the opportunity to carve a niche for himself.
On her part, a mother of one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Chioma Ndah said she would ever remain grateful to SPDC for taking the burden of paying university tuition and other fees off the family’s shoulders, as she and her husband were already finding it difficult to fend for their six children at the same time.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.