About sixty communities across Edo and Delta states have benefited from the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC) annual scholarship scheme organised for its host communities.
Mr Dahiru Abubakar, Manager, Community Relations Department, NPDC, made this known at the weekend during the conduct of the year 2020/2021 scholarship examination organised by NPDC in Warri, Delta.
Abubakar,who was represented by the team Lead of the Warri Examination Center, Mr Noble Imabibo, said the scheme was part of NPDC corporate social responsibility to its host communities.
He disclosed that the scholarship examination was being conducted simultaneously at three centres in Warri, Delta State, Egbema in Imo State and Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He added:”The Warri center has about 170 candidates selected from 60 communities across Edo and Delta, 22 in Egbema and 145 in Port Harcourt centres.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 the year 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”
He disclosed that plans were under way to create an online platform for the students to take the exams particularly now that the COVID-19 pandemic had made it almost impossible for people to interact physically.
