The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to expand its foreign postgraduate scholarship programme to include scholarships for students studying in Nigerian universities. This move is aimed at boosting human capital development across the Niger Delta region.
The Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, revealed this during an assessment visit to the venue of the foreign postgraduate scholarship interviews in Port Harcourt. He noted that the local version of the scheme will cater to a much larger number of beneficiaries.
According to him, while 200 students typically benefit from the foreign scholarship annually, the expanded programme will support 600 indigenes of the Niger Delta. In a statement signed by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Nwakama, Dr. Ogbuku commended the interview panelists and encouraged them to remain impartial and ensure that only the most qualified candidates are selected.
“The students who benefited from the scholarship scheme in the previous years had distinctions in their various fields of study, and we have not heard of criminal or any negative reports about them,” he said.
Dr. George Uzonwanne, NDDC Director of Education, Health, and Social Services, provided insights into the selection process. He explained that over 30,000 people applied, out of which 6,000 were shortlisted for a computer-based test (CBT). Candidates who scored 70% and above—about 2,500 in total—progressed to the oral interview stage.
Uzonwanne stressed that the process has been transparent, and candidates could see their CBT scores immediately after completion. He added that this transparency boosted confidence in the process.
The chairman of the interview panel, Prof. Beleudanyo Fente, praised the NDDC’s efforts, not just in education but also in improving infrastructure across the region. He assured that the selection process will remain fair and that only the most suitable candidates will be awarded scholarships.
Some of the applicants also expressed appreciation for the programme. Mr. Benedict Chigozie described the interview process as “transparent and satisfactory,” while Miss Blessing Chinonso, who is physically challenged, thanked the NDDC and appealed for more inclusive provisions for persons with disabilities.
With this expansion, the NDDC hopes to provide more opportunities for students in the region and foster long-term growth by empowering the next generation of professionals.
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