Business
3,100 Scramble For NDDC Scholarship
A total of 3,100 candidates of Niger Delta extraction out of about 6,000 that applied for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Foreign Scholarship Scheme have written an electronic examination.
The candidates consisting of persons for the Master and Doctorate Degrees were drilled in general science among others.
Speaking to newsmen at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, ICT Centre, venue of the aptitude test, the Director, Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. Christy Atako explained that the choice of electronic examination was to enable the Commission shortlist the right candidates to be interviewed for the scholarship scheme.
“It is a transparent way of short-listing them, each candidate has opportunity to compete and then we would take the best”, Mrs. Atako said, disclosing that several applications were received but only those who met the criteria were shortlisted for the computer based test.
On emphasis in the sciences, Dr. Atako said “you know we have a lot of gaps in our oil and gas sector, and that is what we desire in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large”.
According to her, “we also need to encourage our youths to show interest in engineering for the sake of our projects. We need qualified engineers that can manage our projects just as in agriculture, environmental science and other science related courses”.
“We believe that our children should have some exposure outside the country in addition to their studies to enable them learn from people of other nations in both lifestyle and academics,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the consultant, Mr. Asawo Ibituro emphasised that electronic examination breeds’ transparency. “There is no room for anybody to change your grade since your picture and details are in the system, after writing the examination.