The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC) has commenced the process of awarding scholarships to students from sixty of its host communities spread across Edo and Delta States.
The Manager, Community Relations of NPDC, Mr Dahiru Abubakar, who was represented by the team lead of the Warri Examination Centre, Mr Noble Imabibo made this known at the weekend during the conduct of the 2020/2021 scholarship examination organised by NPDC in Warri, Delta State.
The manager said the company’s annual scholarship scheme was part of NPDC’s corporate social responsibility to its host communities and disclosed that the examination was being conducted simultaneously at three centres in Warri, Delta State, Egbema in Imo State and Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He stated: “The Warri centre has about 170 candidates selected from 60 communities across Edo and Delta, 22 in Egbema and 145 in Port Harcourt centre.”
“In total, we have 337 candidates from the different host communities sitting for the examination out of which successful candidates would be awarded the scholarships.
“Over 10,000 students have so far been awarded the scholarships since the programme started in 2000.
“The NPDC scholarship scheme has helped to reduce youth restiveness in the communities and has helped in human capital development in the communities hosting its operations.
“Communities do the nominations and send the list to NPDC for the scholarship examinations.”
He however disclosed that plans were under way to create online platform for the students to take the examinations virtually due to COVID-19 pandemic which has restrained physical interactions.
The manger representative said that to ensure a transparent, free and fair exercise; NPDC management engaged the services of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources as consultant in conduct of the examination.