Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has announced the expansion of the commission’s Postgraduate Scholarship Programme to include Nigerian universities.
Ogbuku made this known during an interview session for candidates applying for the commission’s foreign postgraduate scholarship, held in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
He stated that, under the expanded scheme, 600 indigent students from the Niger Delta region would be awarded scholarships to pursue postgraduate degrees at universities within Nigeria.
“The 600 students will benefit from the expanded scheme, compared to the 200 who currently receive foreign scholarships,” he said.
Ogbuku stressed that the selection process for the local scholarship awards would be conducted in a transparent manner, ensuring that only qualified candidates are selected.
Also Read:Â NDDC Warns Public Against Fake Scholarship Scam
He also noted that beneficiaries of the commission’s foreign scholarships had consistently distinguished themselves academically in their respective countries of study.
“We commend our interview panellists for their dedication and impartiality, which ensure that only the most qualified candidates are selected for the scholarships,” he added.
Also speaking, Dr George Uzonwanne, Director of Education, Health, and Social Services at the NDDC, outlined the rigorous procedures adopted to maintain a transparent selection process.
He revealed that over 30,000 applicants had applied for the scholarships, with only about 6,000 candidates passing the Computer-Based Test (CBT).
“From this number, 2,500 applicants scored 70 per cent or above, qualifying them for the oral interview stage, which will determine the final recipients of the foreign postgraduate scholarships,” Uzonwanne said.
He reaffirmed the integrity of the process, noting that candidates received their test scores immediately after completing the CBT, thereby ensuring transparency and fairness.
