Education
360 Indigent N’Delta Pupils Get Shell Special Scholarship
Five years after the launch of the Cradle-To-Career scholarship scheme in 2010 for hard-to-reach but brilliant children in remote public primary schools in the Niger Delta states, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), has now increased the number of beneficiaries of the special education development programme in three core pilot states of Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers, to 360 indigent pupils.
Inducting 60 new beneficiaries into the fully funded secondary school scholarship scheme at Brookstone Secondary School, Rukpokwu, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, the company said that the pupils, who come from public primary schools in typically hard-to-access Niger Delta communities, have been enrolled into four of the best secondary schools in the country for quality education.
The pupils, who passed required tests to undertake rigorous secondary education at Jephthah Comprehensive College, Brookstone Secondary School, Bloombreed High School, and Archdeacon Brown Education Centre, all in Port Harcourt, were admitted after a painstaking and transparent academic selection process conducted under the strict supervision of the various stakeholders, including the state Ministries of Education.
Speaking at the induction ceremony, Managing Director, SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN), Osagie Okunbor, assured the 60 pupils that the company would fund their educational career up till university level, if they maintained top-of-the-class academic records, adding that this was one of the many pillars upon which Shell’s education support initiatives hinge.
Represented by the General Manager, External Relations, Igo Weli, the managing director, stressed that, “The C2C approach marks a significant improvement in our portfolio of scholarship schemes,” pointing out that, “It is designed to bridge educational inequalities resulting from geographic and socio-economic differences.”
“SPDC and its joint venture partners are proud of the achievements of the scheme, which is in line with UNESCO’s ‘Education for All’ goal, has received local and international accolades,” he stated.
He added that, “SCiN have a long history of supporting education through scholarships and other initiatives with about 1,080 secondary school and 850 tertiary schlarships annually”, emphasising that, “In 2014 alone, the SPDC joint venture and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), invested some $14.8 million in scholarships and other education programmes.”
In his remarks on behalf of the Rivers State Government, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Michael West, commended SPDC and its joint venture partners for the life-transforming programme, and charged other private companies to emulate the example.
According to him, “Any organisation that invests in educational development is to be commended. With programmes like this, I believe we can take education to a new height.”
In their goodwill messages, representatives of Bayelsa and Delta State governments, lauded the company for complimenting the efforts of government in promoting quality education and building capacity to bridge the yawning gap in human capital development in the catchment states, and challenged other multinational oil and gas companies to emulate the Shell initiative in improving education in the Niger Delta.
In an interview, a guardian to one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Maureen Benstowe, said: “The C2C scholarship scheme is definitely transforming lives. I have been carrying the burden of educating my ward alone until I heard about this programme. Today, SPDC has lifted my burden and wiped away my tears.”
Another parent, Mrs Anne Ajayi, said: “I’m so grateful to SPDC for this rare opportunity. The expensive school my child is today, I ordinarily would not have been able to afford it. I see my dream and that of my child become reality because of the wisdom of this company.”
A beneficiary, Yamiye Godstime, said, “SPDC has made my dream of becoming an engineer possible, and I hope to graduate and play my role in contributing to the development of my community, the nation and humanity.”
The Executive Chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Alabo David Briggs and his Post Primary Schools Board, counterpart, Dr. Sam Emejuru recently embarked on a joint visit to Model Girls Secondary School, Mbodo Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Arera of Rivers State.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after interacting with the students, Alabo Briggs said both of them were in the school to know how the students are faring, how happy they are, and to also know their areas of need and then take pragmatic decisions that would enhance the wellbeing of the students.
Describing the school as the only boarding school in Rivers State made up of Senior and Junior Secondary, the UBE boss said the visit has actually afforded them the opportunity to know what is lacking in the school, and promised that every machinery would be adequately put in place to ensure that the school is made more attractive and students well taken care of.
He further maintained that the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and staff of the school must rise to the occasion so as to bring back the lost glory of the school and ensure that the students are treated and well handled like their own children.
Corroborating the UBE boss, Dr. Sam Emejuru of the Post Primary School promised that everything possible would be done to reposition the school, and appealed to all concerned to be patient.
During the visit, the two Board chairmen and their members met with the school authorities wherein issues bordering on the school were discreetly ironed out and some good changes made.
Alabo Briggs also gave cash to some of the students that performed well in the essay competition that took place in Port Harcourt.
The students were also given cartons of sanitary pads to mark the International Day of the Girl Child which was celebrated all over the world recently.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) support programme on report writing for Chief Supervisors and Evaluators of the Local Government Areas took place recently at the UBE Board Headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Addressing the participants, the Board member in charge of Supervision/Monitoring, Chief Nwuke Anucha, described the programme as very interesting and educative as it is aimed at broadening the knowledge of the Chief Supervisors and Evaluators on report writing.
While thanking UBEC for the initiative, Chief Anucha also commended the resource persons who came from UBEC Abuja for doing a good job and appealed to the participants to see the support programme on report writing as an opportunity to do better.
Also speaking, the Board member, Project/Technical, Dr. Walson Ominini described the programme as a good one that all the participants must take seriously for the good of Rivers State.
Ominini used the medium to announce the personnel audit for staff of the Local Government Education Authorities in the three Senatorial zones coming up next week at the Board Headquarters adding that any staff of the LGEA who does not take part in the Audit should regard himself or herself as not being a staff of UBE.
In her vote of thanks, the Director, Quality Assurance, Mrs. Nnenna Osumenya thanked UBEC for the programme, and described it as a welcomed development.
She particularly thanked the Executive Chairman of the Board, Alabo David Briggs and the Board members for giving the programme the needed attention.
By: Akujobi Amadi
In cognizance of the value of reading in educational, career and knowledge pursuits, TotalEnergies Joint Venture(JV) Asset has committed itself to instilling the habit in students of secondary schools to enable them succeed in their academic pursuits and become good leaders of tommorow.
This, it is achieving through its Annual Book Reading and Open Day programme.
This year’s event, organised for Senior Secondary Schools in Rivers State,with the theme, ‘The World Is A Maze; Navigate It — Read’ and held at the Event Centre, TotalEnergies Office, PortHarcourt, explored the book, ‘Unexpected Joy At Dawn’ by Ghanaian author, Alex Agyei Agyiri.
Participating schools chosen across Port Harcourt included Government Technical College, PortHarcourt; Bishop Crowther Memorial Secondary School, Rumuobiakani; Oginigba Comprehensive Secondary School; Community Secondary School, Rumuomasi, and Hilltop Prime International College.
Others were Community Secondary School, Amadi-Ama; Government Senior Secondary School, Elekahia; Community Secondary School, Nkpogu; Dietams International Schools; and Community Secondary School, Abuloma.
In his address, the Deputy Managing Director, Joint Venture Asset, TotalEnergies EP, Nigeria Limited, Olivier Cassassoles, said reading habit remains a major essential needed for life’s development in information, direction and character building, and stressed the need for the students, many of whom he said would grow to become leaders to cultivate and sustain the culture.
Cassassoles, who was represented by the Executive Director, JV Asset, PortHarcourt, Obi Imemba, quoted former American President, Barack Obama’s words, “reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible” and stated that “this clearly aligns with the theme of the day and implies that in order to successfully navigate the complexities of life, one needs to read”.
Cassassoles said “as students, many of you will grow to be leaders and leaders need a lot of information to stay relevant. The books you read will shape your future and through them you will find wisdom to make a difference”.
According to him, the book reading event is one that the company holds dear to heart as it promotes the culture of reading among students in Nigeria.
While encouraging the students to make conscientious effort to research good books with themes and characters that align with what they intend to do in future, Cassassoles expressed the hope that the students would commit themselves to a life of reading, adding that “I expect that you will be leaving here with a clearer idea of the career path you want to pursue “.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ovy Chinedum Chukwuma, described this year’s theme as ‘most appropriate’ at a time when students have abandoned the text book for not only the phone – Whatsapp, Twitter etcetera but other vices.
Represented by the Technical Adviser to the Commissioner, Dr Joy Nwamaka Joseph, Chukwuma noted that reading is an effective tool for engaging students in critical thinking, saying “a student that reads focuses attention on the task at hand, immersing them in information and improving his/her concentration and memory”, insisting that students must read in order to navigate this maze-like world successfully.
The Commissioner commended TotalEnergies for “always seeking to improve the educational standards of our pupils, students, under/post graduates in our institutions and for inspiring them to develop the habit of reading as a life style”.
Earlier, the Country Communications Manager, TotalEnergies, Charles Ebereonwu, revealed that the annual reading event is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) targeted at making the best of future leaders.
In his closing remarks, the Special Adviser, People and Talent Management, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, Samuel Nkwo, lauded the students for going beyond reading the book to taking lessons there from.
“What has happened here today has given us encouragement that this is a good thing to do and that we should continue to do it” Nkwo said.
Highlights of the event included reading and discussion of the book, ‘Unexpected Joy At Dawn’, questions and answers session and presentation of gift items including school bags, solar lamps, books among others to the students.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu